Nothing Compares
April 21, 2016 10:22 AM Subscribe
His full name was Prince Rogers Nelson. He was 57 years old when he passed away today at his home, Paisley Park, outside of Minneapolis MN
He had a medical emergency on April 15th that forced his private jet to make an emergency landing in Illinois. But he appeared at a concert the next day to assure his fans he was okay.
His new album, one of his best according to some fans, came out last fall.
Some consider him the most influential musical artist of the 1980s. And some, Prince among them, might say that's not going far enough.
He had a medical emergency on April 15th that forced his private jet to make an emergency landing in Illinois. But he appeared at a concert the next day to assure his fans he was okay.
His new album, one of his best according to some fans, came out last fall.
Some consider him the most influential musical artist of the 1980s. And some, Prince among them, might say that's not going far enough.
AAAGGHHHH WHAT THE FUCK
posted by prize bull octorok at 10:23 AM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 10:23 AM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
Dearly beloved
We are gathered here today
2 get through this thing called life
Electric word life
It means forever and that's a mighty long time
But I'm here 2 tell u
There's something else
The afterworld
A world of never ending happiness
U can always see the sun, day or night
.
posted by The Notorious SRD at 10:23 AM on April 21, 2016 [302 favorites]
We are gathered here today
2 get through this thing called life
Electric word life
It means forever and that's a mighty long time
But I'm here 2 tell u
There's something else
The afterworld
A world of never ending happiness
U can always see the sun, day or night
.
posted by The Notorious SRD at 10:23 AM on April 21, 2016 [302 favorites]
Is it too late to change our minds about the $20 bill?
posted by snofoam at 10:23 AM on April 21, 2016 [66 favorites]
posted by snofoam at 10:23 AM on April 21, 2016 [66 favorites]
Unacceptable.
posted by Simon! at 10:23 AM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by Simon! at 10:23 AM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
Rest in purple.
posted by box at 10:23 AM on April 21, 2016 [13 favorites]
posted by box at 10:23 AM on April 21, 2016 [13 favorites]
Oh no oh no oh no
posted by PussKillian at 10:23 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by PussKillian at 10:23 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
“Dearly beloved
We are gathered here today
2 get through this thing called life.”
posted by Fizz at 10:23 AM on April 21, 2016
We are gathered here today
2 get through this thing called life.”
posted by Fizz at 10:23 AM on April 21, 2016
.
posted by fzx101 at 10:23 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by fzx101 at 10:23 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
fuck.
.
Dearly beloved
We are gathered here today
2 get through this thing called life.
posted by dismas at 10:23 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
.
Dearly beloved
We are gathered here today
2 get through this thing called life.
posted by dismas at 10:23 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Ƭ̵̬̊
posted by edmz at 10:23 AM on April 21, 2016 [65 favorites]
posted by edmz at 10:23 AM on April 21, 2016 [65 favorites]
.
"And if the elevator tries to bring you down. Go crazy, punch a higher floor."
posted by Roentgen at 10:23 AM on April 21, 2016 [40 favorites]
"And if the elevator tries to bring you down. Go crazy, punch a higher floor."
posted by Roentgen at 10:23 AM on April 21, 2016 [40 favorites]
I only wanted one time to see you laughing
I only want to see you laughing in the purple rain
This is so hard to even fathom.
posted by narancia at 10:23 AM on April 21, 2016
I only want to see you laughing in the purple rain
This is so hard to even fathom.
posted by narancia at 10:23 AM on April 21, 2016
2016 is like all Red Wedding all the time :(
.
posted by supermedusa at 10:23 AM on April 21, 2016 [71 favorites]
.
posted by supermedusa at 10:23 AM on April 21, 2016 [71 favorites]
There aren't enough words to express how much this year sucks.
.
posted by clone boulevard at 10:23 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
.
posted by clone boulevard at 10:23 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
Aw, no. I call a do-over on this year already.
He was an amazing artist and will be sorely missed.
posted by Gelatin at 10:23 AM on April 21, 2016
He was an amazing artist and will be sorely missed.
posted by Gelatin at 10:23 AM on April 21, 2016
What, so this is real?! I saw a TMZ article a friend posted on FB but I thought it had to be fake. Goddamn.
.
posted by AFABulous at 10:24 AM on April 21, 2016
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posted by AFABulous at 10:24 AM on April 21, 2016
No 'symbol' unicode. 💋
posted by signal at 10:24 AM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by signal at 10:24 AM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
.
What Bowie was for a lot of people, Prince was for me: a musician who pried open my mind and expanded my oh-so-limited idea of what a "rock star" should be like, and a person who showed me that you could be ferociously and fearlessly yourself.
posted by sgranade at 10:24 AM on April 21, 2016 [103 favorites]
What Bowie was for a lot of people, Prince was for me: a musician who pried open my mind and expanded my oh-so-limited idea of what a "rock star" should be like, and a person who showed me that you could be ferociously and fearlessly yourself.
posted by sgranade at 10:24 AM on April 21, 2016 [103 favorites]
NO.
posted by a hat out of hell at 10:24 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by a hat out of hell at 10:24 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
.
posted by The Bellman at 10:24 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by The Bellman at 10:24 AM on April 21, 2016
nothing compares 2 u, prince.
posted by palomar at 10:24 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by palomar at 10:24 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
.
If you were a real cool dude in the 1980s... just please, schedule a physical or something? For me? This is getting fucking ridiculous.
posted by selfnoise at 10:24 AM on April 21, 2016 [54 favorites]
If you were a real cool dude in the 1980s... just please, schedule a physical or something? For me? This is getting fucking ridiculous.
posted by selfnoise at 10:24 AM on April 21, 2016 [54 favorites]
I am in shock what a fucking year.
posted by futz at 10:24 AM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by futz at 10:24 AM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
Very hard to process. Only last month, I saw him perform live. I have difficulty finding words to describe how astoundingly alive and electric he was.
This is what it sounds like when doves cry.
.
posted by /\/\/\/ at 10:24 AM on April 21, 2016 [22 favorites]
This is what it sounds like when doves cry.
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posted by /\/\/\/ at 10:24 AM on April 21, 2016 [22 favorites]
what the hell happened? he was way too young.
posted by zutalors! at 10:25 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by zutalors! at 10:25 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
We saw him on February 28th. Just him, and a piano. It was such an intimate show - personal. Lovely. I don't even know what to say about this news.
posted by rtha at 10:25 AM on April 21, 2016 [16 favorites]
posted by rtha at 10:25 AM on April 21, 2016 [16 favorites]
NOOOOOOOOOOO
I just saw him do a show at Paisley Park two months ago. Can't believe this.
posted by triggerfinger at 10:25 AM on April 21, 2016
I just saw him do a show at Paisley Park two months ago. Can't believe this.
posted by triggerfinger at 10:25 AM on April 21, 2016
.
posted by killy willy at 10:25 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by killy willy at 10:25 AM on April 21, 2016
I blame Abe Vigoda. His demise was all that was holding back this flood of deaths.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 10:25 AM on April 21, 2016 [38 favorites]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 10:25 AM on April 21, 2016 [38 favorites]
purple adjective:
9. imperial, regal, or princely.
10. brilliant or showy.
11. full of exaggerated literary devices and effects; marked by excessively ornate rhetoric:
a purple passage in a novel.
12. profane or shocking, as language.
.
posted by philip-random at 10:25 AM on April 21, 2016 [57 favorites]
9. imperial, regal, or princely.
10. brilliant or showy.
11. full of exaggerated literary devices and effects; marked by excessively ornate rhetoric:
a purple passage in a novel.
12. profane or shocking, as language.
.
posted by philip-random at 10:25 AM on April 21, 2016 [57 favorites]
If you were a real cool dude in the 1980s... just please, schedule a physical or something? For me? This is getting fucking ridiculous.
I'm looking at you, Bruce Springsteen!
posted by zutalors! at 10:25 AM on April 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
.
posted by Radiophonic Oddity at 10:25 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by Radiophonic Oddity at 10:25 AM on April 21, 2016
he was too sexy for this cold paisley-free world
posted by poffin boffin at 10:26 AM on April 21, 2016 [37 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 10:26 AM on April 21, 2016 [37 favorites]
.
posted by soren_lorensen at 10:26 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by soren_lorensen at 10:26 AM on April 21, 2016
.
posted by likeatoaster at 10:26 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by likeatoaster at 10:26 AM on April 21, 2016
a musical genius.
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posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 10:26 AM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
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posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 10:26 AM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
My mates wrote a song back in the 90s in tribute to Prince. It's
.
posted by adept256 at 10:26 AM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
.
posted by adept256 at 10:26 AM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
I never got into Prince, but I've always respected the guy.
I know what I'll be doing, music-wise, this weekend.
.
posted by SansPoint at 10:26 AM on April 21, 2016
I know what I'll be doing, music-wise, this weekend.
.
posted by SansPoint at 10:26 AM on April 21, 2016
One of my coworkers just started yelling "NOOOO!" at her desk, which prompted a flurry of Googling. It took 5 minutes or so before the confirmation was announced.
Jesus, 2016 is an asshole so far.
.
posted by caution live frogs at 10:26 AM on April 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
Jesus, 2016 is an asshole so far.
.
posted by caution live frogs at 10:26 AM on April 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
What do you even say to this.
posted by naju at 10:27 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by naju at 10:27 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Just heard. Damn. Rock on in the next world.
posted by jonmc at 10:27 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
.
posted by strawdog at 10:27 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by strawdog at 10:27 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
👑
posted by Phire at 10:27 AM on April 21, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by Phire at 10:27 AM on April 21, 2016 [10 favorites]
When Baltimore was at its worst, he came for us. If that was the only thing he ever did, I wouldn't forget him.
.
posted by newdaddy at 10:27 AM on April 21, 2016 [71 favorites]
.
posted by newdaddy at 10:27 AM on April 21, 2016 [71 favorites]
The year the music died.
Too much, please stop.
Rest in peace, you marvelous person, so glad you were in my life.
posted by madamjujujive at 10:27 AM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Too much, please stop.
Rest in peace, you marvelous person, so glad you were in my life.
posted by madamjujujive at 10:27 AM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
This has been a crap week, so thanks a bunch universe for this.
.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 10:27 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 10:27 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
🎶
posted by hobgadling at 10:28 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by hobgadling at 10:28 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
.
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 10:29 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 10:29 AM on April 21, 2016
i broke this to my cubiclemates, and i can hear the bad news slowly spreading around the office, judging by the quiet "oh shit!!!!"s and "god nooooo"s
what a precious, sexy man
.
posted by burgerrr at 10:29 AM on April 21, 2016 [11 favorites]
what a precious, sexy man
.
posted by burgerrr at 10:29 AM on April 21, 2016 [11 favorites]
.
posted by tuesdayschild at 10:29 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by tuesdayschild at 10:29 AM on April 21, 2016
I was never a huge fan of Prince's music, but I never failed to be awed by his performances. We've lost another incomparable talent.
posted by jeffamaphone at 10:30 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by jeffamaphone at 10:30 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
Screw you and your ass face, 2016. Of the 5 stages of grief, for the rest of the year, I'm just going with Anger and be done with it.
posted by Chuffy at 10:30 AM on April 21, 2016 [31 favorites]
posted by Chuffy at 10:30 AM on April 21, 2016 [31 favorites]
My first girlfriend was a dead ringer for Prince. That made us both so happy.
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posted by stirred for a bird at 10:30 AM on April 21, 2016 [16 favorites]
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posted by stirred for a bird at 10:30 AM on April 21, 2016 [16 favorites]
His name was Prince and he was funky.
His name was Prince, the one and only.
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posted by mr. digits at 10:30 AM on April 21, 2016 [13 favorites]
His name was Prince, the one and only.
.
posted by mr. digits at 10:30 AM on April 21, 2016 [13 favorites]
A chorus of "Noooo's" and "what's" rippled through my office. He was only 57, so what the fuck?
Man, this one just hits me like a blow. So much of my life had Prince's music drifting in and out of it.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 10:31 AM on April 21, 2016 [12 favorites]
Man, this one just hits me like a blow. So much of my life had Prince's music drifting in and out of it.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 10:31 AM on April 21, 2016 [12 favorites]
I am heartbroken and weeping. No, no, not Prince. No.
nothing compares 2 u
posted by juliplease at 10:31 AM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
nothing compares 2 u
posted by juliplease at 10:31 AM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
But life is just a party and parties weren't meant to last.
.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 10:31 AM on April 21, 2016 [41 favorites]
.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 10:31 AM on April 21, 2016 [41 favorites]
Bowie was amazing but Prince is who I grew up with.
By the time our generation got Bowie, he was just another rockstar on MTV. His most creative years were already in the past during an era (the early-80s) that was more concerned with Now and Next than Nostalgia.
But Prince, Prince was not only Now and Next, he was New and New in a way that no one had even thought to imagine yet. When you are 8 years old, everything is new but you can still tell by the world around you when something truly dazzling and brand new comes along. That was Prince. Much like Bowie, he seemed to arrive fully-formed, complete, and absolutely Other. And not Other as pejorative but as a way of expressing a person that existed according to their own self-made vocabulary. Sure he had influences in the DNA of his work but you could never see the seams. Whatever he was and did was simply a fact of its own creation. A new mythology from Minnesota. The hair, the clothes, the motorcycle, the symbology, the songs. Of course the songs. So many songs that he would trip over them around the house and give them away to friends to build their own star on.
Prince was (and I suppose still is) absolute Pop world-building, to the point that he eventually did build his own world in the form of Paisley Park Studios, a personal Xanadu where he would finally exit quietly on a Thursday in April with a lack of fanfare or buildup that was both not at all Prince and absolutely Prince simultaneously.
RIP
posted by Senor Cardgage at 10:31 AM on April 21, 2016 [86 favorites]
By the time our generation got Bowie, he was just another rockstar on MTV. His most creative years were already in the past during an era (the early-80s) that was more concerned with Now and Next than Nostalgia.
But Prince, Prince was not only Now and Next, he was New and New in a way that no one had even thought to imagine yet. When you are 8 years old, everything is new but you can still tell by the world around you when something truly dazzling and brand new comes along. That was Prince. Much like Bowie, he seemed to arrive fully-formed, complete, and absolutely Other. And not Other as pejorative but as a way of expressing a person that existed according to their own self-made vocabulary. Sure he had influences in the DNA of his work but you could never see the seams. Whatever he was and did was simply a fact of its own creation. A new mythology from Minnesota. The hair, the clothes, the motorcycle, the symbology, the songs. Of course the songs. So many songs that he would trip over them around the house and give them away to friends to build their own star on.
Prince was (and I suppose still is) absolute Pop world-building, to the point that he eventually did build his own world in the form of Paisley Park Studios, a personal Xanadu where he would finally exit quietly on a Thursday in April with a lack of fanfare or buildup that was both not at all Prince and absolutely Prince simultaneously.
RIP
posted by Senor Cardgage at 10:31 AM on April 21, 2016 [86 favorites]
Previously on the Blue, we enjoyed a long piece about recently-unearthed footage of the August 3, 1983 first performance of Purple Rain.
Go. Read.
posted by uberchet at 10:31 AM on April 21, 2016 [23 favorites]
Go. Read.
posted by uberchet at 10:31 AM on April 21, 2016 [23 favorites]
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posted by slipthought at 10:31 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by slipthought at 10:31 AM on April 21, 2016
Thank you for that beautiful title. I am very sad right now.
posted by Dragonness at 10:31 AM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Dragonness at 10:31 AM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Prince matters in ways impossible to fathom or describe.
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posted by Navelgazer at 10:32 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
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posted by Navelgazer at 10:32 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
America's greatest artist for the past 40 years. I just want to crawl under the proverbial rock and cry.
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posted by Joey Michaels at 10:32 AM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
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posted by Joey Michaels at 10:32 AM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
Today I am a dove :(
posted by h00py at 10:32 AM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by h00py at 10:32 AM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Oh, fuck this. I've loved Prince, like really actually loved him, since I was ten years old - Sign 'o' the Times came on The Chart Show, and that was it, instant obsession - and I've listened to his records pretty much every day for the past three decades. I can't believe there won't be any more songs, or any more gigs.
posted by jack_mo at 10:32 AM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by jack_mo at 10:32 AM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
.
I saw on Twitter that he hosted an impromptu dance party at his house a few days ago - I wonder if this was his goodbye?
posted by Flashman at 10:33 AM on April 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
I saw on Twitter that he hosted an impromptu dance party at his house a few days ago - I wonder if this was his goodbye?
posted by Flashman at 10:33 AM on April 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
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posted by doctor_negative at 10:33 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by doctor_negative at 10:33 AM on April 21, 2016
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posted by zombieflanders at 10:34 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by zombieflanders at 10:34 AM on April 21, 2016
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posted by pointystick at 10:34 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by pointystick at 10:34 AM on April 21, 2016
There's a bunch of examples of this, but Prince's solo at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 during "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" is just staggering (starts at 3:25).
As I said when Robin Williams died - I'm not sad. These people were giants, and I'm lucky to say I witnessed their gifts.
posted by NoRelationToLea at 10:34 AM on April 21, 2016 [59 favorites]
As I said when Robin Williams died - I'm not sad. These people were giants, and I'm lucky to say I witnessed their gifts.
posted by NoRelationToLea at 10:34 AM on April 21, 2016 [59 favorites]
I am so incredibly upset.
posted by wats at 10:34 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by wats at 10:34 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Damnit, no!
Prince was on my very short list of major pop artists I wanted to see live, but never had a chance to, and now I never will.
posted by loquacious at 10:34 AM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
Prince was on my very short list of major pop artists I wanted to see live, but never had a chance to, and now I never will.
posted by loquacious at 10:34 AM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
I always referred to Prince, with Michael Jackson and Madonna, as the Class of '58–three revolutionary artists born within months of each other in that year who redefined much of pop music in the '80s and beyond.
I put Prince songs on mixtapes for years. His shit was just so funky, free and creative.
What a tragedy.
aav.
.
posted by the sobsister at 10:34 AM on April 21, 2016 [11 favorites]
I put Prince songs on mixtapes for years. His shit was just so funky, free and creative.
What a tragedy.
aav.
.
posted by the sobsister at 10:34 AM on April 21, 2016 [11 favorites]
June of 1984 was the start of the summer before my senior year in High School. Purple Rain is released. I was about to turn 16, a white girl wearing glasses and growing up on farm in Maine. I was the opposite of funky. We didn't have a record store anywhere close to us, so I bought it through the mail from Columbia House. On cassette. I still have the cassette, although the case vanished long ago.
It was the soundtrack of the best and most carefree summer in my life, but more than that, it was one of about three albums that honestly and truly expanded my world. You kids don't know about a time before the internet, about a time when Columbia House records and Rolling Stone magazine were about as close to learning about funky as you could easily get.
Thanks, Prince. Really, truly, thank you.
.
posted by anastasiav at 10:35 AM on April 21, 2016 [62 favorites]
It was the soundtrack of the best and most carefree summer in my life, but more than that, it was one of about three albums that honestly and truly expanded my world. You kids don't know about a time before the internet, about a time when Columbia House records and Rolling Stone magazine were about as close to learning about funky as you could easily get.
Thanks, Prince. Really, truly, thank you.
.
posted by anastasiav at 10:35 AM on April 21, 2016 [62 favorites]
This year can just get fucked. Bowie was hard enough to deal with. This - given that he was only 57 - is even worse.
posted by Len at 10:35 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Len at 10:35 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
FUCK NO!
posted by MexicanYenta at 10:35 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by MexicanYenta at 10:35 AM on April 21, 2016
So is 2016 just going to hit this planet with a comet in December, just in case?
posted by Hicksu at 10:35 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Hicksu at 10:35 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
Color you peach and black, color me taken aback.
posted by Cold Lurkey at 10:35 AM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Cold Lurkey at 10:35 AM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
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My favorite non-musical Prince rumor is that he'd rent a Twin Cities bowling alley for him and his friends to bowl at.
posted by drezdn at 10:35 AM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
My favorite non-musical Prince rumor is that he'd rent a Twin Cities bowling alley for him and his friends to bowl at.
posted by drezdn at 10:35 AM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Much like Bowie, he seemed to arrive fully-formed, complete, and absolutely Other. And not Other as pejorative but as a way of expressing a person that existed according to their own self-made vocabulary. Sure he had influences in the DNA of his work but you could never see the seams. Whatever he was and did was simply a fact of its own creation. A new mythology
to which I would add, from a few years ago here ...
1999 - Purple Rain - Around the World in A day - Parade - Sign of the Times - The Black Album - Lovesexy. Seven albums, five years, 1983-88, all of them motherf***ers. You kind of had to be there to genuinely "get it". Prince was THE popular recording artist of the 1980s. He always connected. He never pandered. His live shows were even better than his records.
Now, I just think of him as a one man Beatles who somehow managed to split-up at his peak and go separate ways, with none of his subsequent stuff approaching his former genius. To be disappointed is to be unrealistic. We've already gotten more from the guy than any culture has a right to expect.
posted by philip-random at 10:36 AM on April 21, 2016 [26 favorites]
to which I would add, from a few years ago here ...
1999 - Purple Rain - Around the World in A day - Parade - Sign of the Times - The Black Album - Lovesexy. Seven albums, five years, 1983-88, all of them motherf***ers. You kind of had to be there to genuinely "get it". Prince was THE popular recording artist of the 1980s. He always connected. He never pandered. His live shows were even better than his records.
Now, I just think of him as a one man Beatles who somehow managed to split-up at his peak and go separate ways, with none of his subsequent stuff approaching his former genius. To be disappointed is to be unrealistic. We've already gotten more from the guy than any culture has a right to expect.
posted by philip-random at 10:36 AM on April 21, 2016 [26 favorites]
THEY TOLD ME HE WAS FINE AFTER THE PLANE THING.
dammit.
.
posted by sparklemotion at 10:36 AM on April 21, 2016 [20 favorites]
dammit.
.
posted by sparklemotion at 10:36 AM on April 21, 2016 [20 favorites]
WHAT NO THIS CANNOT BE
posted by chaoticgood at 10:36 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by chaoticgood at 10:36 AM on April 21, 2016
Man 57 is no age at all
posted by The Whelk at 10:36 AM on April 21, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 10:36 AM on April 21, 2016 [10 favorites]
Also I think jack_mo should give us a rundown of the Prince/Larry Graham/et al gig he saw in NYC in 1999.
posted by Len at 10:36 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by Len at 10:36 AM on April 21, 2016
It's a cliche to say of someone lost too young, that they still had plenty of life in them. But in this case, it was so true.
Just check out his recent passport photo, which was sexy as fuck.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:36 AM on April 21, 2016 [30 favorites]
Just check out his recent passport photo, which was sexy as fuck.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:36 AM on April 21, 2016 [30 favorites]
I still remember the first time "When Doves Cry" came on the radio. It was one of the most incredible things I had ever heard-- and at the time my favorite bands were Metallica and Anthrax. Then just a few weeks ago I'm in the car and a song comes on and I need to explain to my daughter what a beret is and how one could be raspberry.
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I hope whoever takes control of his estate goes easier on the internet policing of his music. Let it live on...
posted by gwint at 10:37 AM on April 21, 2016 [16 favorites]
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I hope whoever takes control of his estate goes easier on the internet policing of his music. Let it live on...
posted by gwint at 10:37 AM on April 21, 2016 [16 favorites]
there will be no death, 4 with every breath
A voice of many colors sings a song that's so bold...
.
posted by Metroid Baby at 10:37 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
A voice of many colors sings a song that's so bold...
.
posted by Metroid Baby at 10:37 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
In my freshman year of college, around 2001 or 2002, Prince came through Columbus, OH for a show. After the show, he and his entourage arrived at Buckeye Donuts, a small coffee/donut shop that is a campus institution of sorts. Two bodyguards blocked the door. Another assisted Prince at the counter.
Prince whispered to the bodyguard his order. The bodyguard said to the employee "Prince would like two longjohns." Prince whispered again. The bodyguard said, while fluttering his fingers "with sprinkles".
Prince sat down with his donuts, ate them, keeping mostly to himself. The crowd at the shop, who were mostly regulars stayed seated, and we acknowledged him while mostly leaving him to himself. A crowd started to surround the shop as Prince. Was. There. The bodyguards kept them out.
Prince then went to the restroom, one that wasn't known to be very clean, and was in there for roughly 15 minutes. He emerged, and left with his entourage.
The Prince seat is on the corner of the inner counter, nearest the door, facing eastward.
.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 10:37 AM on April 21, 2016 [97 favorites]
Prince whispered to the bodyguard his order. The bodyguard said to the employee "Prince would like two longjohns." Prince whispered again. The bodyguard said, while fluttering his fingers "with sprinkles".
Prince sat down with his donuts, ate them, keeping mostly to himself. The crowd at the shop, who were mostly regulars stayed seated, and we acknowledged him while mostly leaving him to himself. A crowd started to surround the shop as Prince. Was. There. The bodyguards kept them out.
Prince then went to the restroom, one that wasn't known to be very clean, and was in there for roughly 15 minutes. He emerged, and left with his entourage.
The Prince seat is on the corner of the inner counter, nearest the door, facing eastward.
.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 10:37 AM on April 21, 2016 [97 favorites]
I'm not a Prince guy. Condolences to you all and all the people who are impacted by this.
I just wanted to say that Kevin Smith killed it when he fielded a question about a documentary that he did with Prince. The rest of the talks are good to great as well.
posted by RolandOfEld at 10:38 AM on April 21, 2016 [22 favorites]
I just wanted to say that Kevin Smith killed it when he fielded a question about a documentary that he did with Prince. The rest of the talks are good to great as well.
posted by RolandOfEld at 10:38 AM on April 21, 2016 [22 favorites]
Motherfucker elevated the Super Bowl halftime show into art. How do you even do that?
posted by the phlegmatic king at 10:39 AM on April 21, 2016 [23 favorites]
posted by the phlegmatic king at 10:39 AM on April 21, 2016 [23 favorites]
.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:39 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:39 AM on April 21, 2016
I will just leave here the first live performance of "Purple Rain", which ended up being the basis of the version on the record. Enjoy musical perfection through the lens of 1983's VHS quality. The overlong intro still gets me every time, especially when he approaches the mike, pulls away, and takes the intro around the block one more time. One of the best live performances of all time. I can't believe he's gone.
.
posted by lubujackson at 10:40 AM on April 21, 2016 [24 favorites]
.
posted by lubujackson at 10:40 AM on April 21, 2016 [24 favorites]
My parents took me to see him when I was in 8th or 9th grade. I'm sure they had no idea what to expect. It says something about the power of Prince's music that I completely forgot to be self conscious about dancing in front of my folks. Hell, I forgot they were even there.
Note to self: Prince can not die. Prince is immortal.
Long live Prince!
posted by S'Tella Fabula at 10:40 AM on April 21, 2016 [9 favorites]
Note to self: Prince can not die. Prince is immortal.
Long live Prince!
posted by S'Tella Fabula at 10:40 AM on April 21, 2016 [9 favorites]
I attended high school in St.Paul, MN in the early 80s and Prince music suffuses all those memories. 1999 was the song, and it always fucking killed us that we were too young to get into First Avenue.
.
posted by Squeak Attack at 10:40 AM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
.
posted by Squeak Attack at 10:40 AM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
Just telling my daughter a few days ago when we were discussing his health and that his plane was diverted that 1999 is NOT AN OLDIE, not a quaint song looking back. In 1982 we couldn't imagine partying in the future 1999 but Prince was there to show us.
Tonight we're going to party like it's 1999.
posted by readery at 10:40 AM on April 21, 2016 [12 favorites]
Tonight we're going to party like it's 1999.
posted by readery at 10:40 AM on April 21, 2016 [12 favorites]
What the hell!? I had no idea he was only 5 years older than me. Way too young to die.
posted by TedW at 10:40 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by TedW at 10:40 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Simply thank you for being my soundtrack for so many decades...
posted by fluffycreature at 10:41 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by fluffycreature at 10:41 AM on April 21, 2016
If you were a real cool dude in the 1980s... just please, schedule a physical or something? For me? This is getting fucking ridiculous.
Also, please, if it's medically indicated for you, get your flu shot. Flu can kill you even if you're otherwise healthy, and it's so easy to think, "wow this cold is terrible, I hope it gets better tomorrow" one too many times.
posted by sgranade at 10:41 AM on April 21, 2016 [11 favorites]
Also, please, if it's medically indicated for you, get your flu shot. Flu can kill you even if you're otherwise healthy, and it's so easy to think, "wow this cold is terrible, I hope it gets better tomorrow" one too many times.
posted by sgranade at 10:41 AM on April 21, 2016 [11 favorites]
There have been a lot of rumors about him having a potentially devastating illness. Could be bunk. I hope it isn't true.
I am beyond upset. Way too young.
posted by futz at 10:42 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
I am beyond upset. Way too young.
posted by futz at 10:42 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
I have a confession to make. I like the Prince song Raspberry Beret. This is remarkable only in that I am a Deadhead.
The little guy could play the guitar!
.
posted by AugustWest at 10:42 AM on April 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
The little guy could play the guitar!
.
posted by AugustWest at 10:42 AM on April 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
Sometimes it snows in April
Sometimes I feel so bad, so bad
Sometimes I wish that life was never ending,
But all good things, they say, never last
.
posted by ndfine at 10:43 AM on April 21, 2016 [14 favorites]
Sometimes I feel so bad, so bad
Sometimes I wish that life was never ending,
But all good things, they say, never last
.
posted by ndfine at 10:43 AM on April 21, 2016 [14 favorites]
The whole fuck 2016 thing sort of annoyed me because it seemed like confirmation bias or something.
But Bowie, Wogan, Rickman, Eco, Cruyff, Marks and now Prince?
Fuck You 2016
posted by fullerine at 10:43 AM on April 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
But Bowie, Wogan, Rickman, Eco, Cruyff, Marks and now Prince?
Fuck You 2016
posted by fullerine at 10:43 AM on April 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
I live by Paisley Park and every time I go past day or night I wonder if he was in there working and what magic he was coming up with for us next. When the purple lights are on from the outside at night even that reasonably unassuming (from the outside) complex has a magic to it that I can't describe. It's going to be a lot different feeling driving past it now.
There was so much talent in that guy. I've seen literally hundreds of live concerts and very few people have that presence on stage. I watched very jaded stagehands, electricians, riggers, etc. who didn't care at all for his style or music be transfixed by his stage presence. He was that good live.
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 10:44 AM on April 21, 2016 [22 favorites]
There was so much talent in that guy. I've seen literally hundreds of live concerts and very few people have that presence on stage. I watched very jaded stagehands, electricians, riggers, etc. who didn't care at all for his style or music be transfixed by his stage presence. He was that good live.
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 10:44 AM on April 21, 2016 [22 favorites]
I am so not okay with this news. I've seen him live a few times in the last few years and they are some of the best live shows ever. Most recently, he did a solo show in Oakland, just him and a piano, when he was here in town for Vanity's memorial service. It was a very different show, very personal -- telling stories about growing up and how music saved him as a kid. Also political, talking about the Flint water crisis and the need to do something about it.
posted by gingerbeer at 10:44 AM on April 21, 2016 [14 favorites]
posted by gingerbeer at 10:44 AM on April 21, 2016 [14 favorites]
.
Thus is what it sounds like
When doves cry.
posted by riverlife at 10:45 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Thus is what it sounds like
When doves cry.
posted by riverlife at 10:45 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
The Artist....formerly known as Prince
.
posted by OHenryPacey at 10:45 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
.
posted by OHenryPacey at 10:45 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
But Bowie, Wogan, Rickman, Eco, Cruyff, Marks and now Prince?
Don't forget Merle.
F*ck 2016.
posted by General Malaise at 10:45 AM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
Don't forget Merle.
F*ck 2016.
posted by General Malaise at 10:45 AM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
Odd that Vanity died two months ago, also at the age of 57
posted by Flashman at 10:45 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Flashman at 10:45 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
.
I just...I don't even. I'm so so sad. I'm still not over David Bowie or Glenn Frey or Alan Rickman. Now this. He was only 57! It just doesn't seem right. RIP.
posted by FireFountain at 10:45 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
I just...I don't even. I'm so so sad. I'm still not over David Bowie or Glenn Frey or Alan Rickman. Now this. He was only 57! It just doesn't seem right. RIP.
posted by FireFountain at 10:45 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Minnesota Public Radio is streaming a Prince tribute starting at 1 PM CST (Live stream link)
They also have a nice write-up on their blog here.
posted by caution live frogs at 10:45 AM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
They also have a nice write-up on their blog here.
posted by caution live frogs at 10:45 AM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
Not the biggest Prince fan either (oversaturated during high school), but I really, really hope that Weird Al can finally do the perfect parody, in his loving memory.
.
posted by Melismata at 10:45 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
.
posted by Melismata at 10:45 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
Goddammit. When Bowie died, I consoled myself that we still had Prince. Fuck you, 2016.
posted by EvaDestruction at 10:45 AM on April 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by EvaDestruction at 10:45 AM on April 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
Clinging to the Wreckage, if you can, leave a flower at the gates from Metafilter.
posted by anastasiav at 10:45 AM on April 21, 2016 [19 favorites]
posted by anastasiav at 10:45 AM on April 21, 2016 [19 favorites]
Just gonna watch this on loop forever.
posted by General Malaise at 10:46 AM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by General Malaise at 10:46 AM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
.
Well that's put a lid on today.
What a genius. Thank you.
It is worth revisiting Anil Dash's article from a couple of years back. (FPP and tag page)
posted by adamvasco at 10:47 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
Well that's put a lid on today.
What a genius. Thank you.
It is worth revisiting Anil Dash's article from a couple of years back. (FPP and tag page)
posted by adamvasco at 10:47 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
So I was at this show in January. It was not long after David Bowie had died. It was a really intimate and personal show - really brilliant from beginning to end. At one point in the show he was in the middle of a song and he just stopped mid-verse and told a little story about how he met David Bowie once and that Bowie was very kind to him. Then he just started back up where he left off in the song. He also gave a shout out to Trayvon Martin and other black victims of police violence. Just a really gentle spirit.
posted by triggerfinger at 10:47 AM on April 21, 2016 [34 favorites]
posted by triggerfinger at 10:47 AM on April 21, 2016 [34 favorites]
Clinging to the Wreckage, if you can, leave a flower at the gates from Metafilter.
I will! I'll have to bike up there and I'm not sure how close I'll get but I'll do what I can.
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 10:48 AM on April 21, 2016 [18 favorites]
I will! I'll have to bike up there and I'm not sure how close I'll get but I'll do what I can.
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 10:48 AM on April 21, 2016 [18 favorites]
The link in this fpp, about the first live performance of Purple Rain and Wendy Melvoin's first appearance with The Revolution, is 404, but it lives on here.
Go watch it. Cry. Remember.
posted by rtha at 10:48 AM on April 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
Go watch it. Cry. Remember.
posted by rtha at 10:48 AM on April 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
"like books and black lives, albums still matter"
posted by burgerrr at 10:49 AM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by burgerrr at 10:49 AM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
The intense anger I felt at not getting tickets to see Prince last year at the Fox Theatre in Detroit is now a deep sadness and I'm looking at this year like
posted by palindromic at 10:49 AM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by palindromic at 10:49 AM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
Here's something that was brutal - when it was reported a few days ago that he was sick, Prince issued a statement saying that it was no big deal - "Wait a few days before you waste your prayers." Which, at this point, seems both prescient and like a declaration of inevitability, futility.
posted by entropone at 10:49 AM on April 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by entropone at 10:49 AM on April 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
.
posted by _Synesthesia_ at 10:50 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by _Synesthesia_ at 10:50 AM on April 21, 2016
♪
posted by Smart Dalek at 10:50 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Smart Dalek at 10:50 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Sirius XM's kid station plays a cover of "Starfish and Coffee" frequently. I had never heard it but the minute they said it was a Prince song, I said "Of course it is," it is inimitably his. He had such a strange, utopian stream of consciousness to some of his songs.
The first time I saw him in the When Doves Cry video I was like "Oh" and it was like a whole new world of What I Find Sexy opened up. He was one of the reasons I straight-up ignored my Christian fundie dad's ban on MTV and watched it whenever I could, with no guilt at all, despite otherwise being a pretty uptight devout kid. I think deep down, I thought "there is no way God could disapprove of this, have you seen how awesome this is??"
posted by emjaybee at 10:50 AM on April 21, 2016 [22 favorites]
The first time I saw him in the When Doves Cry video I was like "Oh" and it was like a whole new world of What I Find Sexy opened up. He was one of the reasons I straight-up ignored my Christian fundie dad's ban on MTV and watched it whenever I could, with no guilt at all, despite otherwise being a pretty uptight devout kid. I think deep down, I thought "there is no way God could disapprove of this, have you seen how awesome this is??"
posted by emjaybee at 10:50 AM on April 21, 2016 [22 favorites]
Just for a note on the Twin Cities impact, three out of four networks are running "breaking news" at the moment.
posted by mr. digits at 10:50 AM on April 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by mr. digits at 10:50 AM on April 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
The saddest part of this is you just know, had he lived, he would continue to write and perform and bring amazing music into the world even as an old man. I can't imagine he would ever stop creating. And mentor other, younger artists. Ugh 2016 you are brutal. Insert crying emoji here.
posted by pjsky at 10:50 AM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by pjsky at 10:50 AM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
.
I realize the tendency to exaggerate when someone passes, but I can truthfully say that I have never been more filled with joy and love of life than one late, hot summer night, standing in a crowd of strangers, singling arm and arm while Prince played "Purple Rain" from a close by stage.
I don't have the words to fully express my thanks for his life and sorrow at his death.
posted by sallybrown at 10:51 AM on April 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
I realize the tendency to exaggerate when someone passes, but I can truthfully say that I have never been more filled with joy and love of life than one late, hot summer night, standing in a crowd of strangers, singling arm and arm while Prince played "Purple Rain" from a close by stage.
I don't have the words to fully express my thanks for his life and sorrow at his death.
posted by sallybrown at 10:51 AM on April 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
Alyssa Rosenberg: A (very) brief Prince and Bowie thought: we've lost two artists who acted as reminders that there's no one right way to be a man.
I can't overstate this enough for me personally. I wasn't really ever a man like either one of them but they gave me the template to not be the template, and that was enough.
I think of the Purple Rain poster that hung in my bedroom (at, if I'm doing the math right, 9 or 10 years, which seems impossible to me, so thanks mom and dad) and Prince's look in it, not quite like anything I'd ever seen in my 800 person small town in the middle of nowhere* and I feel like that being something in my world was giving me permission to figure out who I was.
(* - He was also from the Midwest and SUPER COOL and that was also very important to me.)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 10:51 AM on April 21, 2016 [103 favorites]
I can't overstate this enough for me personally. I wasn't really ever a man like either one of them but they gave me the template to not be the template, and that was enough.
I think of the Purple Rain poster that hung in my bedroom (at, if I'm doing the math right, 9 or 10 years, which seems impossible to me, so thanks mom and dad) and Prince's look in it, not quite like anything I'd ever seen in my 800 person small town in the middle of nowhere* and I feel like that being something in my world was giving me permission to figure out who I was.
(* - He was also from the Midwest and SUPER COOL and that was also very important to me.)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 10:51 AM on April 21, 2016 [103 favorites]
Well, looks like I'll be singing Prince songs all day. Sorry coworkers. Sigh...
posted by downtohisturtles at 10:51 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by downtohisturtles at 10:51 AM on April 21, 2016
Man! Wow.....
posted by Liquidwolf at 10:51 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by Liquidwolf at 10:51 AM on April 21, 2016
OMG, really? Not a Prince fan (he wasn't in my musical wheelhouse), but I can recognize an artist, and he was that.
Horrible year.
posted by lhauser at 10:52 AM on April 21, 2016
Horrible year.
posted by lhauser at 10:52 AM on April 21, 2016
The one true heir to Hendrix.
posted by stargell at 10:52 AM on April 21, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by stargell at 10:52 AM on April 21, 2016 [12 favorites]
Are you fucking kidding me. What the entire fuck.
.
posted by the painkiller at 10:52 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
.
posted by the painkiller at 10:52 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
I was so fortunate to have seen Prince in concert in 2011 with some friends who were hardcore fans--the show was great, but the delight on their faces for the entire time made it even better.
The Afterlife is getting all of the good shows this year, man.
Meanwhile, never forget that Prince could ball, man.
posted by TwoStride at 10:52 AM on April 21, 2016
The Afterlife is getting all of the good shows this year, man.
Meanwhile, never forget that Prince could ball, man.
posted by TwoStride at 10:52 AM on April 21, 2016
.
posted by MrBobaFett at 10:52 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by MrBobaFett at 10:52 AM on April 21, 2016
All the good people who have already died, and still more than six months to the election. That one-way trip to Mars is looking better and better.
Ƭ̵̬̊
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:53 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Ƭ̵̬̊
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:53 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Another person who was probably on my bucket list to see “sometime.”
Weirdly, I was just thinking about John Lennon this morning, and how many great too-young artists’ deaths I’ve witnessed in my life.
Also, at my workplace? While some are mourning Prince, others already talking about other obnoxious, not enlightened stuff. Reminds me how *really* upset I was when MJ died a few months after my father had and a hateful coworker was joking around.
posted by NorthernLite at 10:53 AM on April 21, 2016
Weirdly, I was just thinking about John Lennon this morning, and how many great too-young artists’ deaths I’ve witnessed in my life.
Also, at my workplace? While some are mourning Prince, others already talking about other obnoxious, not enlightened stuff. Reminds me how *really* upset I was when MJ died a few months after my father had and a hateful coworker was joking around.
posted by NorthernLite at 10:53 AM on April 21, 2016
I have been tweeting some thoughts, and I'll try to sum them up here.
Growing up in Minnesota in the 80s, Prince was everywhere. Even before Purple Rain, he was a subject of fascination and amazement. We were not a city that was well-known for music at the time, and here was this one guy, producing this amazing mixture of rock and roll, funk, and soul, and just seizing national attention. Controversy was on constant rotation at parties, and, then, of course, there was his astonishing double-album, 1999, which seemed like some sort of take-no prisoners assault on the pop charts.
But then came Purple Rain, and the mixture of the music and the movie was just this insane juggernaut. Suddenly all eyes were on Minnesota, and bands were popping up, left and right, that were getting national contracts and finding chart success. A lot of them were Prince side projects, because his talent was so explosive it could not be contained in his own work, but spilled over to other bands, other musicians, other scenes, where he was the songwriter, or the producer, or secretly part of the band. But there was also a thriving punk scene at the time, and I have no doubt that Prince is part of what propelled them to national attention, just based on the fact that he made people look at Minneapolis.
I wore a black jacket with studs in high school, inspired by his. I was a new waver, but somehow he managed to straddle so many genres that he showed up on new wave shows, along with the soul stations, the hard rock stations, and the top 40s stations. I took break dance lessons in high school, and my instructor's claim to fame was that he was one of the balcony dancers in Purple Rain. I saw Prince now and then, once in Los Angeles, when he came into the video store where I worked, emerging from a purple limousine with Kim Bassinger.
Prince was ominpresent, especially if you were Minnesotan. He filled First Avenue with people who looked like him, or dressed like him, or sort of acted like him, in Purple Rain, and it seemed ridiculous when the film came out, because we Minnesotans had started to think of ourselves as Prairie Home Companion types, but Prince's idea of Minneapolis had us all looking like deranged mimes. But, son of a gun, if it didn't come true. For a long time, people in Minneapolis really did look like extras in a Prince movie, which many of us wound up being.
And so he had a massive influence on locals. I remember interviewing Dan Wilson of Semisonic years ago. I thought it would be an easy interview, as, believe it or, Dan was my babysitter when I was younger. But we didn't have much to talk about. I broached the topic of Prince, though, and suddenly we spent an hour talking about him. None of it was usable for print, because it literally was just two fans talking about Prince, but you could do this with almost any Minnesotan. My girlfriend is still astonished at how many Prince songs I know by heart, and that I will sing them any damn time I please, which is often.
Even in the past decade or so, as he sort of faded from public view, Prince was always in the background, being weird and fascinating in the way he was. And he never really left Minnesota, which we appreciated.
I have not spent much time thinking about how he was a Minnesotan, but I will today. He included Minnesota touchstones in a lot of what he wrote and sang, a sort of map of Prince's Greater Minneapolis, which was idiosyncratically his, and which he altered forever. I live in Minneapolis growing up, but, from the 80s on, I also had a passport to a shadow Minneapolis, which was his, and I feel like that was just something I took for granted, and that makes me just as sad as his passing. Because he willed that shadow Minneapolis into existence, or, at least, our awareness of it: A funky, multiracial, sexually ambiguous world filled with locations, bands, costumes, and a culture that maybe didn't exist for Minneapolitans before then, or maybe was just invisible to us.
I wonder how long it will last now that he's gone. We should make sure some of it lasts forever.
posted by maxsparber at 10:53 AM on April 21, 2016 [155 favorites]
Growing up in Minnesota in the 80s, Prince was everywhere. Even before Purple Rain, he was a subject of fascination and amazement. We were not a city that was well-known for music at the time, and here was this one guy, producing this amazing mixture of rock and roll, funk, and soul, and just seizing national attention. Controversy was on constant rotation at parties, and, then, of course, there was his astonishing double-album, 1999, which seemed like some sort of take-no prisoners assault on the pop charts.
But then came Purple Rain, and the mixture of the music and the movie was just this insane juggernaut. Suddenly all eyes were on Minnesota, and bands were popping up, left and right, that were getting national contracts and finding chart success. A lot of them were Prince side projects, because his talent was so explosive it could not be contained in his own work, but spilled over to other bands, other musicians, other scenes, where he was the songwriter, or the producer, or secretly part of the band. But there was also a thriving punk scene at the time, and I have no doubt that Prince is part of what propelled them to national attention, just based on the fact that he made people look at Minneapolis.
I wore a black jacket with studs in high school, inspired by his. I was a new waver, but somehow he managed to straddle so many genres that he showed up on new wave shows, along with the soul stations, the hard rock stations, and the top 40s stations. I took break dance lessons in high school, and my instructor's claim to fame was that he was one of the balcony dancers in Purple Rain. I saw Prince now and then, once in Los Angeles, when he came into the video store where I worked, emerging from a purple limousine with Kim Bassinger.
Prince was ominpresent, especially if you were Minnesotan. He filled First Avenue with people who looked like him, or dressed like him, or sort of acted like him, in Purple Rain, and it seemed ridiculous when the film came out, because we Minnesotans had started to think of ourselves as Prairie Home Companion types, but Prince's idea of Minneapolis had us all looking like deranged mimes. But, son of a gun, if it didn't come true. For a long time, people in Minneapolis really did look like extras in a Prince movie, which many of us wound up being.
And so he had a massive influence on locals. I remember interviewing Dan Wilson of Semisonic years ago. I thought it would be an easy interview, as, believe it or, Dan was my babysitter when I was younger. But we didn't have much to talk about. I broached the topic of Prince, though, and suddenly we spent an hour talking about him. None of it was usable for print, because it literally was just two fans talking about Prince, but you could do this with almost any Minnesotan. My girlfriend is still astonished at how many Prince songs I know by heart, and that I will sing them any damn time I please, which is often.
Even in the past decade or so, as he sort of faded from public view, Prince was always in the background, being weird and fascinating in the way he was. And he never really left Minnesota, which we appreciated.
I have not spent much time thinking about how he was a Minnesotan, but I will today. He included Minnesota touchstones in a lot of what he wrote and sang, a sort of map of Prince's Greater Minneapolis, which was idiosyncratically his, and which he altered forever. I live in Minneapolis growing up, but, from the 80s on, I also had a passport to a shadow Minneapolis, which was his, and I feel like that was just something I took for granted, and that makes me just as sad as his passing. Because he willed that shadow Minneapolis into existence, or, at least, our awareness of it: A funky, multiracial, sexually ambiguous world filled with locations, bands, costumes, and a culture that maybe didn't exist for Minneapolitans before then, or maybe was just invisible to us.
I wonder how long it will last now that he's gone. We should make sure some of it lasts forever.
posted by maxsparber at 10:53 AM on April 21, 2016 [155 favorites]
Now we all gather by the waters of Lake Minnetonka.
.
posted by rewil at 10:53 AM on April 21, 2016 [9 favorites]
.
posted by rewil at 10:53 AM on April 21, 2016 [9 favorites]
So far in 2016 we have lost
Bowie
Prince
Merle Haggard
Glenn Frey
Alan Rickman
Paul Kantner
Maurice White
Umberto Eco
Harper Lee
Phife Dawg
George Martin
Keith Emerson
Frank Sinatra Jr.
Garry Shandling
Jim Harrison
Patty Duke
... and probably more I'm forgetting, plus Scott Weiland, Lemmy and Natalie Cole in December 2015. Has there been a year in recent memory where more big names have passed? I shudder to think who's next.
posted by Clustercuss at 10:54 AM on April 21, 2016 [9 favorites]
Bowie
Prince
Merle Haggard
Glenn Frey
Alan Rickman
Paul Kantner
Maurice White
Umberto Eco
Harper Lee
Phife Dawg
George Martin
Keith Emerson
Frank Sinatra Jr.
Garry Shandling
Jim Harrison
Patty Duke
... and probably more I'm forgetting, plus Scott Weiland, Lemmy and Natalie Cole in December 2015. Has there been a year in recent memory where more big names have passed? I shudder to think who's next.
posted by Clustercuss at 10:54 AM on April 21, 2016 [9 favorites]
WWƬ̵̬̊D
posted by Don Pepino at 10:54 AM on April 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by Don Pepino at 10:54 AM on April 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
As tweeted a few minutes ago by Stephen Whitty:
If they don't light the Empire State Building purple tonight, I may just go down myself and paint the damn thing
posted by Celsius1414 at 10:55 AM on April 21, 2016 [37 favorites]
If they don't light the Empire State Building purple tonight, I may just go down myself and paint the damn thing
posted by Celsius1414 at 10:55 AM on April 21, 2016 [37 favorites]
I don't even know what to say. Minnesota feels empty right now.
.
posted by Bacon Bit at 10:55 AM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
.
posted by Bacon Bit at 10:55 AM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Purple Rain Live 2007
Watch and weep people for his like come but once in a lifetime.
Adios. Adios. Adios
posted by adamvasco at 10:55 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
Watch and weep people for his like come but once in a lifetime.
Adios. Adios. Adios
posted by adamvasco at 10:55 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
today might just be the day I finally use up my allotment of favorites ...
posted by philip-random at 10:56 AM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by philip-random at 10:56 AM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
In retrospect this death wave of older rockers started with the death by cancer of Chris Squire in June 2015
posted by thelonius at 10:56 AM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by thelonius at 10:56 AM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
Has there been a year in recent memory where more big names have passed?
As Europe and America get older demographically speaking, there'll be even more coming down the pike.
posted by Cash4Lead at 10:56 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
As Europe and America get older demographically speaking, there'll be even more coming down the pike.
posted by Cash4Lead at 10:56 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Prince guest starring on Muppets Tonight in 2007 if you need a little moment of lightness.
posted by anastasiav at 10:57 AM on April 21, 2016 [20 favorites]
posted by anastasiav at 10:57 AM on April 21, 2016 [20 favorites]
I saw him once, in 2012, at a show that was pretty much panned critically (and I think he ended up apologizing for). It was indeed a little bizarrely-paced, to put it mildly, but it was motherfucking PRINCE.
I want to spend all of my disposable income and time on concerts now, because you just never know.
2016 is a record-breaking year for loss of funk on this planet. So much talent, gone way too soon. RIP Prince, and thank you so much.
posted by Fig at 10:58 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
I want to spend all of my disposable income and time on concerts now, because you just never know.
2016 is a record-breaking year for loss of funk on this planet. So much talent, gone way too soon. RIP Prince, and thank you so much.
posted by Fig at 10:58 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Not a death..an apotheosis! I have no doubt the skies opened up and a light came down and he rose up to the stars with a wicked guitar lick and a saucy wink.
Farewell, Prince.
posted by Elly Vortex at 10:58 AM on April 21, 2016 [11 favorites]
Farewell, Prince.
posted by Elly Vortex at 10:58 AM on April 21, 2016 [11 favorites]
Still so cool, dropping tracks with Janelle Monae
posted by palindromic at 10:58 AM on April 21, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by palindromic at 10:58 AM on April 21, 2016 [12 favorites]
A lot of people would say Prince is "meh, OK" or something along those lines. Then you show them what he does live and jaws hit the floor. What we hear on the radio sometimes can be so sterile compared to the talent that's behind the performance.
posted by azpenguin at 10:59 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by azpenguin at 10:59 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
Goddamnit 2016. My husband just told me, and I was like, No, Prince isn't old enough to die. So, I figured I'd check mefi before even check news sites. Losing Prince hurts almost as much as losing Bowie. This year, I cannot even...
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 10:59 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 10:59 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
With Prince and Chyna, we have lost two people who rose to the top all while telling the world's gender norms to go to hell.
.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 10:59 AM on April 21, 2016 [39 favorites]
.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 10:59 AM on April 21, 2016 [39 favorites]
;_;
Here's a really wonderful mixtape of his hits and rarities if you need to hear his music right now.
.
posted by One Second Before Awakening at 11:00 AM on April 21, 2016 [18 favorites]
Here's a really wonderful mixtape of his hits and rarities if you need to hear his music right now.
.
posted by One Second Before Awakening at 11:00 AM on April 21, 2016 [18 favorites]
I can't even. :(
If you want to sob and mourn along with MN, join us at The Current; they're playing Prince all day long, plus there are call in moments.
posted by correcaminos at 11:00 AM on April 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
If you want to sob and mourn along with MN, join us at The Current; they're playing Prince all day long, plus there are call in moments.
posted by correcaminos at 11:00 AM on April 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
yeah, I was wondering if someone was going to do a Chyna post (I am not qualified) but that's going to be totally neglected news.
RIP also Chyna.
posted by zutalors! at 11:00 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
RIP also Chyna.
posted by zutalors! at 11:00 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
.
posted by cooker girl at 11:01 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by cooker girl at 11:01 AM on April 21, 2016
Dammit, even Audubon California is getting in on this, with a fb post saying "This is what it sounds like when doves cry."
posted by gingerbeer at 11:01 AM on April 21, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by gingerbeer at 11:01 AM on April 21, 2016 [12 favorites]
If you don't like Prince, you don't like music. Or art. Or joy. RIP.
posted by yhbc at 11:02 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by yhbc at 11:02 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
I always always loved that Kieron and Jamie knew exactly who they wanted to model the god Inanna on in The Wicked & the Divine.
posted by Kitteh at 11:02 AM on April 21, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by Kitteh at 11:02 AM on April 21, 2016 [12 favorites]
The kid is dead. Long live The Kid!
posted by skyper at 11:02 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by skyper at 11:02 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
.
It feels like 2016 is a slow creative Rapture.
So many times, on a warm clear summer night, I'd be driving on 35 northbound towards Minneapolis, which curves past downtown, and the skyline would be lit up and glowing and "Purple Rain" would come on the radio, and it would just be a perfect soundtrack.
posted by castlebravo at 11:02 AM on April 21, 2016 [12 favorites]
It feels like 2016 is a slow creative Rapture.
So many times, on a warm clear summer night, I'd be driving on 35 northbound towards Minneapolis, which curves past downtown, and the skyline would be lit up and glowing and "Purple Rain" would come on the radio, and it would just be a perfect soundtrack.
posted by castlebravo at 11:02 AM on April 21, 2016 [12 favorites]
Tonight I'm just thankful that for several decades I shared a planet with Prince. One of a kind and gone way, way, way before his time. He still had so much inside of him.
posted by kariebookish at 11:03 AM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by kariebookish at 11:03 AM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
Throughout his various ages, he outright embodied life force, so this just seems wrong, somehow.
.
and thanks for such amazing times & funk.
posted by progosk at 11:03 AM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
.
and thanks for such amazing times & funk.
posted by progosk at 11:03 AM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
I clearly remember a situation when I was 18, and an older black lady I had met was listening to some Prince. I didn't know what it was, and I sort of laughingly said "what is this?" and made some comment about it, in the way teens annoyingly do. Without hesitation she said "You don't disrespect Prince. Ever."
That has since stuck in my head every time I've heard a Prince song.
You don't disrespect Prince.
posted by naju at 11:03 AM on April 21, 2016 [60 favorites]
That has since stuck in my head every time I've heard a Prince song.
You don't disrespect Prince.
posted by naju at 11:03 AM on April 21, 2016 [60 favorites]
.
posted by Ms. Moonlight at 11:03 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by Ms. Moonlight at 11:03 AM on April 21, 2016
This leaves me bereft... I was about to call my husband to tell him, but I thought no, let him have a few more hours of not knowing. Thank you all for the links... I can't watch them at work because I know I'll start bawling at my desk. :(
posted by WordCannon at 11:03 AM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by WordCannon at 11:03 AM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
This makes me much sadder than I would have anticipated, and I am a big Prince fan. Was there anyone who brought more joy to the world than Prince?
I hope he didn't suffer. Such a sweet, kind soul.
posted by areaperson at 11:03 AM on April 21, 2016
I hope he didn't suffer. Such a sweet, kind soul.
posted by areaperson at 11:03 AM on April 21, 2016
.
posted by double bubble at 11:04 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by double bubble at 11:04 AM on April 21, 2016
Apparently artists dying at 57 is a thing this week.
Richard Lyons of Negativland passed away on Tuesday.
posted by delfin at 11:04 AM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
Richard Lyons of Negativland passed away on Tuesday.
posted by delfin at 11:04 AM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
I’m cross with god who has wrecked this generation.
First he seized David, then Merle, Tony, and now Prince.
In between he gorged on Vanity.
That was a first rate haul. He left alive
fools I could number like a kitchen knife
but Keith he did not touch.
(with apologies to John Berryman and condolences to the family and friends of Prince Rogers Nelson)
posted by octobersurprise at 11:05 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
First he seized David, then Merle, Tony, and now Prince.
In between he gorged on Vanity.
That was a first rate haul. He left alive
fools I could number like a kitchen knife
but Keith he did not touch.
(with apologies to John Berryman and condolences to the family and friends of Prince Rogers Nelson)
posted by octobersurprise at 11:05 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
Gutted.
posted by ptochocrat at 11:05 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by ptochocrat at 11:05 AM on April 21, 2016
I'm... heartbroken. I think I'm gonna call up that shrink, in Beverly Hills. You know the one: Doctor Everything'll Be Alright.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 11:05 AM on April 21, 2016 [17 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 11:05 AM on April 21, 2016 [17 favorites]
.
I love stories & monologues about Prince (by Questlove, Charlie Murphy, Sandra Bernhard, Jamie Foxx, Larry Graham, friends of friends who’ve met him, etc.). They’re always even goofier than you think they’re going to be at the start. But you know what’s true in all of them? Prince working his ass off. That guy worked hard. I can’t think of a Prince anecdote that involves him being lazy or unsure of himself. I can think of some lousy choices he made (and some lousy songs too) but Prince stories are always about Prince being several chess moves ahead of everyone else in the room -- not just hanging out on some elevated spiritual-sexual plane. He’s like some kind of trickster figure.
If I were closer I would totally go purify myself in the waters of Lake Minnetonka.
posted by miles per flower at 11:06 AM on April 21, 2016 [28 favorites]
I love stories & monologues about Prince (by Questlove, Charlie Murphy, Sandra Bernhard, Jamie Foxx, Larry Graham, friends of friends who’ve met him, etc.). They’re always even goofier than you think they’re going to be at the start. But you know what’s true in all of them? Prince working his ass off. That guy worked hard. I can’t think of a Prince anecdote that involves him being lazy or unsure of himself. I can think of some lousy choices he made (and some lousy songs too) but Prince stories are always about Prince being several chess moves ahead of everyone else in the room -- not just hanging out on some elevated spiritual-sexual plane. He’s like some kind of trickster figure.
If I were closer I would totally go purify myself in the waters of Lake Minnetonka.
posted by miles per flower at 11:06 AM on April 21, 2016 [28 favorites]
Prince helped to make my genuinely shitty adolescence, in a small town where the music soundtrack was primarily big hair rock, bearable. For that alone, I owe him a debt of gratitude.
RIP, you marvelous man.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 11:07 AM on April 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
RIP, you marvelous man.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 11:07 AM on April 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
> When Baltimore was at its worst, he came for us. If that was the only thing he ever did, I wouldn't forget him.
Here's the song. Freddie Gray died a year ago this week, April 19, 2015. If there ain't no justice, then there ain't no peace.
posted by jillithd at 11:07 AM on April 21, 2016 [9 favorites]
Here's the song. Freddie Gray died a year ago this week, April 19, 2015. If there ain't no justice, then there ain't no peace.
posted by jillithd at 11:07 AM on April 21, 2016 [9 favorites]
After Michael Jackson, I realized the only other death on the same scale — the natural yin to that yang — would be Prince. But that wouldn't happen for a long, long time, right?
Sigh.
.
posted by CommonSense at 11:10 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
Sigh.
.
posted by CommonSense at 11:10 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
What the hell 2016? Is this what happens before Trump brings the End Times?
I lived in the Twin Cities from 91-10. There were always stories of him flying around: unannounced shows, late night jams at Paisley after playing the Target Center, him showing up to gig at small clubs, or just spotted sifting through vinyl at Cheapos. One has stuck in my mind. He played a small venue in Uptown, must have been in the late 90s. Just a trio or so behind him. They played some hard, swamp rock that sounded like Cream mating with the Allman Brothers with a patch of Little Feat. Of course, it was incendiary. When asked it this material was going to be released he just said, "nah, it's going back in the vault". I've heard a lot of stories of that vault, of miles and miles of tapes, of it being in pristine shape, of it being an incomprehensible mess. And I wonder, what will see the light of day...
RIP you shining megastar, nothing can ever ever compare to U.
posted by Ber at 11:10 AM on April 21, 2016 [13 favorites]
I lived in the Twin Cities from 91-10. There were always stories of him flying around: unannounced shows, late night jams at Paisley after playing the Target Center, him showing up to gig at small clubs, or just spotted sifting through vinyl at Cheapos. One has stuck in my mind. He played a small venue in Uptown, must have been in the late 90s. Just a trio or so behind him. They played some hard, swamp rock that sounded like Cream mating with the Allman Brothers with a patch of Little Feat. Of course, it was incendiary. When asked it this material was going to be released he just said, "nah, it's going back in the vault". I've heard a lot of stories of that vault, of miles and miles of tapes, of it being in pristine shape, of it being an incomprehensible mess. And I wonder, what will see the light of day...
RIP you shining megastar, nothing can ever ever compare to U.
posted by Ber at 11:10 AM on April 21, 2016 [13 favorites]
.
2016 needs to have the old Roman tradition of Damnatio Memoriae applied to it. I propose that we erase all records of 2016, and after this wretched year is over, we all agree to never speak of 2016 ever again.
posted by LeRoienJaune at 11:12 AM on April 21, 2016 [10 favorites]
2016 needs to have the old Roman tradition of Damnatio Memoriae applied to it. I propose that we erase all records of 2016, and after this wretched year is over, we all agree to never speak of 2016 ever again.
posted by LeRoienJaune at 11:12 AM on April 21, 2016 [10 favorites]
A few weeks ago i was having a terrible week and Purple Rain was playing at an old movie palace that sometimes plays repertory flicks here in Sacramento called The Crest, so I popped in to reboot my mood, which of course absolutely worked.
But what was really interesting about it was that seeing it on a big screen like that, you find yourself trying to see behind the mask and see if you can find the person inside Prince. In the same sense that everyone was a child once. You look for a dropping of facade or a quirk or a tell that gets you a peek behind the curtain. The whole film I couldn't find one. Again, seamless.
posted by Senor Cardgage at 11:12 AM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
But what was really interesting about it was that seeing it on a big screen like that, you find yourself trying to see behind the mask and see if you can find the person inside Prince. In the same sense that everyone was a child once. You look for a dropping of facade or a quirk or a tell that gets you a peek behind the curtain. The whole film I couldn't find one. Again, seamless.
posted by Senor Cardgage at 11:12 AM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Well I guess we finally know why he tossed that guitar up in the air after shredding on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," and why it never came back down.
posted by emelenjr at 11:13 AM on April 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by emelenjr at 11:13 AM on April 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
When I was about 11 I got Purple Rain as one of my first tapes I got for my first stereo. After that I though Prince was pretty hit-or-miss but there were still new songs I liked a lot. By the late 90's I had pretty much forgotten about him. One day I was at a Deadhead friend's house and one of his tapes had some filler on it that was just amazing funky guitar. "What is this?" I asked. "Prince, live" he replied. When Napster came around that was one of my first searches. prince live. It was a revelation. Thanks Teale for bringing the funk. Thanks Prince for being sooo funky.
posted by irisclara at 11:13 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by irisclara at 11:13 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
If he really, really had to go (and sucks to be you, 2016!) then I'm glad it was at Paisley Park: the only appropriate place.
.
posted by easily confused at 11:14 AM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
.
posted by easily confused at 11:14 AM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
It's a good thing he got started so young because he didn't have much time? That's the only good thing I can think of to say.
posted by zutalors! at 11:14 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by zutalors! at 11:14 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
He was the same age as Michael Jackson. And me (shiver).
.
posted by Bee'sWing at 11:15 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
.
posted by Bee'sWing at 11:15 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
2016... let me up, I have had enough.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 11:16 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by ricochet biscuit at 11:16 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Seeing Purple Rain was my first date.
.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 11:16 AM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 11:16 AM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
Raising a glass in a toast to this incredible diminutive powerhouse, while listening to these blues.
posted by helion at 11:17 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by helion at 11:17 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
.
posted by mountmccabe at 11:18 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by mountmccabe at 11:18 AM on April 21, 2016
.
posted by threetwentytwo at 11:18 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by threetwentytwo at 11:18 AM on April 21, 2016
Still so cool, dropping tracks with Janelle Monae
Or just blowing her mind: Prince Sends Janelle Monáe a Singing Telegram.
posted by effbot at 11:19 AM on April 21, 2016 [15 favorites]
Or just blowing her mind: Prince Sends Janelle Monáe a Singing Telegram.
posted by effbot at 11:19 AM on April 21, 2016 [15 favorites]
What is this, I can't even begin to process yet another death this year, argh!
posted by Lynsey at 11:20 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by Lynsey at 11:20 AM on April 21, 2016
if there ain't no justice, then there ain't no peace
song for Baltimore ...
posted by philip-random at 11:20 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
song for Baltimore ...
posted by philip-random at 11:20 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
2016 claims another beloved victim; "worst serial killer ever" say helpless authorities.
.
posted by nubs at 11:20 AM on April 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
.
posted by nubs at 11:20 AM on April 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
The Purple Rain tour was my first concert. I was in college. He was my college years. I just cannot with this.
.
posted by ceejaytee at 11:23 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
.
posted by ceejaytee at 11:23 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
.
Fuck, this year has been really bad, and it seems like it's not getting any better.
posted by Sphinx at 11:23 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Fuck, this year has been really bad, and it seems like it's not getting any better.
posted by Sphinx at 11:23 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Prince's music probably taught me how to dance, via MTV and VH1 after school when I had the house to myself, and along with Madonna and others emulated this confident, unique sexuality that I wanted to grow into.
With an intellect and a savoir-faire
No one in the whole universe
Will ever compare
Re: 2016 I'm also now a little worried about anyone FotC has dressed up as.
posted by Sayuri. at 11:23 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
With an intellect and a savoir-faire
No one in the whole universe
Will ever compare
Re: 2016 I'm also now a little worried about anyone FotC has dressed up as.
posted by Sayuri. at 11:23 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
song for Baltimore ...
"The system is broken. It's going to take young people to fix it this time. We need new ideas, new life ..." (Prince)
posted by philip-random at 11:24 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
"The system is broken. It's going to take young people to fix it this time. We need new ideas, new life ..." (Prince)
posted by philip-random at 11:24 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
.
posted by eustacescrubb at 11:24 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by eustacescrubb at 11:24 AM on April 21, 2016
So yesterday's $20 bill thing was just an island of cool in 2016's continuing wave of garbage, I guess.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:25 AM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:25 AM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
On a note on why 2016 seems to be a never-ending cavalcade of celebrity losses- this discussion thread from Hacker News on the passing of Garry Shandling suggests that there's a few statistical causes- many of these celebrities were Boomers, who are nearing that autumn period of their generation. Another is that we're living in a time in history where there are more entertainment stars than ever, which causes us to recognize more who are passing away.
At any rate,
. .
posted by Apocryphon at 11:25 AM on April 21, 2016 [10 favorites]
At any rate,
. .
posted by Apocryphon at 11:25 AM on April 21, 2016 [10 favorites]
.
posted by CarrotAdventure at 11:27 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by CarrotAdventure at 11:27 AM on April 21, 2016
yeah I guess it's beside the point but I feel like blaming the calendar year is a little silly, if understandable. It's a confirmation bias.
posted by zutalors! at 11:27 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by zutalors! at 11:27 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
.
Too many songs to call out over the course of his long career. He was a true artist. He didn't worry about being cool, he simply *was* by being true to himself.
posted by honey badger at 11:28 AM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Too many songs to call out over the course of his long career. He was a true artist. He didn't worry about being cool, he simply *was* by being true to himself.
posted by honey badger at 11:28 AM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Besides his own catalogue he also wrote Martika's Love... Thy Will Be Done, which is just a friggin' song.
posted by PenDevil at 11:28 AM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by PenDevil at 11:28 AM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
Once, not long after I moved to Minneapolis, I was waiting for a friend outside First Avenue for a show. A cab pulled up and a middle-aged couple got out and asked the doorman if they could run inside, just to look for a moment. He let them in while the cab waited and they came out a couple minutes later and hopped in the cab and left. I asked the doorman what was up, and he said that people come up all the time, just wanting to see the stage where Purple Rain was filmed.
This story doesn't really have a point, just, I guess, that Prince's work was so powerful that people are willing to go out of their way to just bask in it for a moment. To be near a place where he was, even decades later.
posted by padraigin at 11:28 AM on April 21, 2016 [17 favorites]
This story doesn't really have a point, just, I guess, that Prince's work was so powerful that people are willing to go out of their way to just bask in it for a moment. To be near a place where he was, even decades later.
posted by padraigin at 11:28 AM on April 21, 2016 [17 favorites]
💜
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 11:28 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 11:28 AM on April 21, 2016
Two small memories:
* It is 1984, and I'm finally old enough to be "the babysitter" when my parents want a night out on the town. One weekend, my parents had decided they would indeed enjoy a night at the movies; my brother and I had homework and videogames to catch up on, so we stayed home. The movie my parents went to see was Purple Rain. ...they stopped at the local record store on the way home from the theater to pick up the soundtrack, and as soon as they came in the door, they called out to us - "Kids, we have some music you need to listen to right now." I think my brother and I eventually ended up taking over the soundtrack album in turns.
* It is early 2001, and it is the closing night of a show I've been stage managing. One of the leads has had a personal ritual that before every show, she blasts "Sexy MF" on her walkman; since it is closing night, she asks if, just once, I can play it over the theater's onstage soundsystem instead. I usually don't do that, but decide "what the hell" - and am treated to the sight of various cast and crew members, including the director, getting all funky as they wander in and out of the house as they bustle about, preparing for the show.
Rest well, you sexy MF.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:30 AM on April 21, 2016 [41 favorites]
* It is 1984, and I'm finally old enough to be "the babysitter" when my parents want a night out on the town. One weekend, my parents had decided they would indeed enjoy a night at the movies; my brother and I had homework and videogames to catch up on, so we stayed home. The movie my parents went to see was Purple Rain. ...they stopped at the local record store on the way home from the theater to pick up the soundtrack, and as soon as they came in the door, they called out to us - "Kids, we have some music you need to listen to right now." I think my brother and I eventually ended up taking over the soundtrack album in turns.
* It is early 2001, and it is the closing night of a show I've been stage managing. One of the leads has had a personal ritual that before every show, she blasts "Sexy MF" on her walkman; since it is closing night, she asks if, just once, I can play it over the theater's onstage soundsystem instead. I usually don't do that, but decide "what the hell" - and am treated to the sight of various cast and crew members, including the director, getting all funky as they wander in and out of the house as they bustle about, preparing for the show.
Rest well, you sexy MF.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:30 AM on April 21, 2016 [41 favorites]
Has XM/Sirius temporarily devoted a channel in his honor yet? They did for the last few icons we lost, so I imagine they will.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 11:30 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by DirtyOldTown at 11:30 AM on April 21, 2016
Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiescat in pace.
“Prince Performs “Purple Rain” During Downpour | Super Bowl XLI Halftime Show”—NFL, 12 February 2016
“[T]he 1983 show (August 3rd, to be more exact) was the first public live performance of Prince & The Revolution. The concert was a benefit for the Minnesota Dance Theater Company. It was also the first time the band would perform several of what would become their signature tracks, most importantly ‘Purple Rain.’ [Caution: Language]”
“While My Guitar Gently Weeps” at the George Harrison Tribute Concert—Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 10 April 2012
posted by ob1quixote at 11:30 AM on April 21, 2016 [10 favorites]
“Prince Performs “Purple Rain” During Downpour | Super Bowl XLI Halftime Show”—NFL, 12 February 2016
“[T]he 1983 show (August 3rd, to be more exact) was the first public live performance of Prince & The Revolution. The concert was a benefit for the Minnesota Dance Theater Company. It was also the first time the band would perform several of what would become their signature tracks, most importantly ‘Purple Rain.’ [Caution: Language]”
“While My Guitar Gently Weeps” at the George Harrison Tribute Concert—Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 10 April 2012
posted by ob1quixote at 11:30 AM on April 21, 2016 [10 favorites]
If you need a stream, KEXP is on it. (Alphabet St. on right now.)
posted by maudlin at 11:30 AM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by maudlin at 11:30 AM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
Earlier this year I read ballerina Misty Copeland's autobiography, and she devotes a nice section to her collaborations with Prince and how he mentored and inspired her. Google Books won't let me see a long enough portion to post an excerpt, but she speaks highly of his gentle spirit and of his creative genius. Even though I wasn't a huge fan myself, he has inspired many in the arts whose work I adore, and for that I am so grateful.
posted by timestep at 11:32 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by timestep at 11:32 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
Don't care where we go
I don't care what we do
I don't care pretty baby
Just take me with U
posted by Become A Silhouette at 11:32 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
I don't care what we do
I don't care pretty baby
Just take me with U
posted by Become A Silhouette at 11:32 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
MTV is showing all Prince videos now.
posted by ndfine at 11:32 AM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by ndfine at 11:32 AM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
Has XM/Sirius temporarily devoted a channel in his honor yet? They did for the last few icons we lost, so I imagine they will.
I don't know but appareantly MTV has stopped all regular programming (i.e. not showing videos anymore) to show a marathon of Prince videos, which pleases me.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 11:32 AM on April 21, 2016 [13 favorites]
I don't know but appareantly MTV has stopped all regular programming (i.e. not showing videos anymore) to show a marathon of Prince videos, which pleases me.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 11:32 AM on April 21, 2016 [13 favorites]
They better, they owe half of their existence to him.
posted by rhizome at 11:34 AM on April 21, 2016 [41 favorites]
posted by rhizome at 11:34 AM on April 21, 2016 [41 favorites]
I don't have much to add, other than as for a lot of people here he was the musical lodestar of my teenager and college years -- waiting for his next jam to come out, poring over the inscrutable references in his lyrics, always shocked at what he pulled next out of his paisley sleeve, the Mad Hatter nonpareil of 1980s music.
Dressed up in the most ever-lovingly flamboyant purple outfit I had to go see Purple Rain in the summer of 1984 at the Mann Plaza in Westwood. Loved pissing off my punk-loving college freshman roommate by playing Prince at top volume and ignoring his irate dismissals of the guy as a pop sellout flash-in-the-pan. When people in my dorm were listening to the Beastie Boys and U2 and Def Leppard I was listening to Sign o the Times.
Very tough to realize he's gone.
posted by blucevalo at 11:34 AM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
Dressed up in the most ever-lovingly flamboyant purple outfit I had to go see Purple Rain in the summer of 1984 at the Mann Plaza in Westwood. Loved pissing off my punk-loving college freshman roommate by playing Prince at top volume and ignoring his irate dismissals of the guy as a pop sellout flash-in-the-pan. When people in my dorm were listening to the Beastie Boys and U2 and Def Leppard I was listening to Sign o the Times.
Very tough to realize he's gone.
posted by blucevalo at 11:34 AM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
.
Prince was a genius, in part because he was one of the '80s-era r&b musicians/producers who knew how to use the technology of the time to craft a unique sound, instead of just replacing the drummer and horn section with a drum machine and synthesizer and calling it a day.
posted by The Card Cheat at 11:35 AM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
Prince was a genius, in part because he was one of the '80s-era r&b musicians/producers who knew how to use the technology of the time to craft a unique sound, instead of just replacing the drummer and horn section with a drum machine and synthesizer and calling it a day.
posted by The Card Cheat at 11:35 AM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
Wish I'd gotten over my punker-than-thou attitude sooner and gone to see him live. Had a sort of awakening in the produce aisle of our co-op a few years back when the demo of "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore" came on and stopped me in my tracks, cauliflower in hand. RIP.
posted by ryanshepard at 11:36 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by ryanshepard at 11:36 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
You guys remember that time they threw a Superbowl at a Prince show?
posted by echocollate at 11:38 AM on April 21, 2016 [88 favorites]
posted by echocollate at 11:38 AM on April 21, 2016 [88 favorites]
.
posted by lalochezia at 11:38 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by lalochezia at 11:38 AM on April 21, 2016
I just texted my sister the news, and she had the best response; Prince cannot die, he just booked a tour through another dimension.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 11:39 AM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 11:39 AM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
Never forget.
“Did eye add 2 much pepper?”posted by Fizz at 11:39 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Well, fuck. I don't even know what to say or think at this point. 2016 just has me stumped. I'm beginning to wonder if any of us are going to get out of it alive.
Fuck.
posted by Devils Rancher at 11:40 AM on April 21, 2016
Fuck.
posted by Devils Rancher at 11:40 AM on April 21, 2016
Fifty fucking seven? What the hell, that's only five years older than I am.
posted by octothorpe at 11:40 AM on April 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 11:40 AM on April 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
On a note on why 2016 seems to be a never-ending cavalcade of celebrity losses -
Yeah, there's a completely understandable demographic shift thing that is starting to happen now, and we're going to be seeing more and more of this. Time is the ultimate killer (as Meatloaf said, "you were only killing time and it will kill you right back"), but for me the 2016 jokey comments are a way of coping with what seems like a sudden stream of losing important people from the larger cultural milieu of my formative years. Not to mention the fact that it means some of the important people from my personal life are in that demographic shift as well.
posted by nubs at 11:41 AM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Yeah, there's a completely understandable demographic shift thing that is starting to happen now, and we're going to be seeing more and more of this. Time is the ultimate killer (as Meatloaf said, "you were only killing time and it will kill you right back"), but for me the 2016 jokey comments are a way of coping with what seems like a sudden stream of losing important people from the larger cultural milieu of my formative years. Not to mention the fact that it means some of the important people from my personal life are in that demographic shift as well.
posted by nubs at 11:41 AM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
I know that there was always this hope that Prince would finally give in and let Weird Al do a parody of one of his songs, but I really admire the fact that Weird Al took Prince's polite refusals seriously and didn't do one anyway. Al eventually referenced Prince in Word Crimes (and in a rather cute way, too), and I think that's enough. Prince didn't want his music parodied. That was his prerogative artist then, and even (and perhaps especially) now.
posted by Hermione Granger at 11:42 AM on April 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by Hermione Granger at 11:42 AM on April 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
Musical gem. I took about 15 seconds to move my mind from "just another poser with a guitar" to jaw-dropping astonishment at the way the shit just flew off his fingers and onto the fretboard of his guitar. The first 14 seconds was blank because I was in the throes, so to speak, stunned. The wow part lasted quite a while after the number.
Thanks for the music. Rest in Peace.
posted by mule98J at 11:42 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Thanks for the music. Rest in Peace.
posted by mule98J at 11:42 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
.
posted by lowest east side at 11:44 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by lowest east side at 11:44 AM on April 21, 2016
I guess I should have known by the way you parked your car sideways that it wouldn't last.
So many songs that I never get tired of.
.
posted by antinomia at 11:45 AM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
So many songs that I never get tired of.
.
posted by antinomia at 11:45 AM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
.
posted by dragstroke at 11:47 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by dragstroke at 11:47 AM on April 21, 2016
On a note on why 2016
A BBC program tried to answer this question a few days ago.
.
posted by squeak at 11:47 AM on April 21, 2016
A BBC program tried to answer this question a few days ago.
.
posted by squeak at 11:47 AM on April 21, 2016
Dammit. learning about Victoria Wood today was fucking bad enough, but Prince?
I was in high school when Prince was in his supersexy Diamonds & Pearls/Cream phase and all that and he was one of the few artists that everybody liked, even if quite a few of us uptight, whitebread hicks who'd normally be into metal or punk would deny it if asked about it.
Prince also got a teacher into trouble when at a parents night somebody objected to a poster of that album cover and for the rest of the year Prince had badly drawn briefs on.
posted by MartinWisse at 11:48 AM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
I was in high school when Prince was in his supersexy Diamonds & Pearls/Cream phase and all that and he was one of the few artists that everybody liked, even if quite a few of us uptight, whitebread hicks who'd normally be into metal or punk would deny it if asked about it.
Prince also got a teacher into trouble when at a parents night somebody objected to a poster of that album cover and for the rest of the year Prince had badly drawn briefs on.
posted by MartinWisse at 11:48 AM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
.
posted by inconsequentialist at 11:49 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by inconsequentialist at 11:49 AM on April 21, 2016
Kevin Smith's discussion on Prince at around 27:30, he mentions that Prince has a vault FULL of unreleased material. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ALL OF THAT MATERIAL NOW?!?!
posted by jillithd at 11:50 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by jillithd at 11:50 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
.
posted by aspersioncast at 11:51 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by aspersioncast at 11:51 AM on April 21, 2016
The first time Prince rocked my word was on a family trip to California when around the Dirty Mind era when he was in his leather shorts and cape phase. Too far out there for us sheltered suburban kids!
The second time Prince rocked my world was when I saw Purple Rain when it came out. I was 19. I grew up in very homogenous suburban Northern Virginia, and Purple Rain was the craziest rockingest thing I'd ever seen.
This is the third time.
posted by kirkaracha at 11:52 AM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
The second time Prince rocked my world was when I saw Purple Rain when it came out. I was 19. I grew up in very homogenous suburban Northern Virginia, and Purple Rain was the craziest rockingest thing I'd ever seen.
This is the third time.
posted by kirkaracha at 11:52 AM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
This doesn't apply to Prince, but it does bear thinking about where the apparent bulge in 2016 celebrity deaths is concerned.
The BBC recently made the point that the rise of TV and pop music in the 1950s and 1960s had the effect of "manufacturing" famous people at an unprecedented rate. Suddenly, there were many, many more famous people than there ever had been before. Fame tends to coincide with sexual desirability, so - particularly in music - the new celebrities were very often in their twenties. Wind the clock on 55 years, and that generation of stars are getting to an age when you might reasonably expect them to die.
We've continued to manufacture celebrity at an even greater rate since the 1960s, so it'll be interesting to see whether this number of celebrity deaths turns out to be the new normal, or just a bubble that will pass through the system. We're turning out 1,000 X-Factor "stars" for everyone of Bowie or Prince's calibre right now, but will anyone still care enough to mourn them come 2070?
posted by Paul Slade at 11:52 AM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
The BBC recently made the point that the rise of TV and pop music in the 1950s and 1960s had the effect of "manufacturing" famous people at an unprecedented rate. Suddenly, there were many, many more famous people than there ever had been before. Fame tends to coincide with sexual desirability, so - particularly in music - the new celebrities were very often in their twenties. Wind the clock on 55 years, and that generation of stars are getting to an age when you might reasonably expect them to die.
We've continued to manufacture celebrity at an even greater rate since the 1960s, so it'll be interesting to see whether this number of celebrity deaths turns out to be the new normal, or just a bubble that will pass through the system. We're turning out 1,000 X-Factor "stars" for everyone of Bowie or Prince's calibre right now, but will anyone still care enough to mourn them come 2070?
posted by Paul Slade at 11:52 AM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
The Corporate Telescreen broke the news, I was like"Gett off". Dude was just at a Warriors game with some crazy Phil Spector hair going on. I thought, man, the troubles of aging when your celebrity is bound in libido.
posted by Ogre Lawless at 11:52 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Ogre Lawless at 11:52 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
.
posted by Annabelle74 at 11:52 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by Annabelle74 at 11:52 AM on April 21, 2016
Better live now, before grim reaper comes knockin' on your door...
posted by Cookiebastard at 11:53 AM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Cookiebastard at 11:53 AM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
The Purple Rain movie was also my first date. Sigh.
posted by staggering termagant at 11:53 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by staggering termagant at 11:53 AM on April 21, 2016
i am in shock. i do not understand. when i was a super-repressed baptist kid struggling with all the forces inside me that i wouldn't understand for years to come, his music was like this crazy beacon, a world where all the stuff i tried to pretend didn't exist, actually did exist, and did so in bold electric colors. i bought album after album and listened to them secretly, where no one would know. i still remember getting sign o the times on vinyl and being scared my mom would see. i mean, i remember it exactly, being in the car coming home from high school, opening the package (record club!), and being like, oh, i better hide this.
there was so much liberation promised in that music. there was so much artistry, that all pointed in the same direction, this utter freedom. i never got that freedom, i never got to be liberated, but at least i felt like i knew what it sounded like.
i feel so bad now.
posted by mittens at 11:53 AM on April 21, 2016 [32 favorites]
there was so much liberation promised in that music. there was so much artistry, that all pointed in the same direction, this utter freedom. i never got that freedom, i never got to be liberated, but at least i felt like i knew what it sounded like.
i feel so bad now.
posted by mittens at 11:53 AM on April 21, 2016 [32 favorites]
just thinking a lot about David Bowie and Prince right now. they were each in their own ways such utter individuals who could not and would not deny their particular brands of freaky creativity to the world. for so many people I know who felt like the weirdos, who didn't fit into the usual categories, these artists meant something so deep and important to them. far beyond the wonderful music this symbol of being yourself and creating your own mythos and meaning in life. I know people who felt SAVED by these icons, saved from their own self doubts at a young age, saved from any shame at being different. it's a big loss to take in.
posted by supermedusa at 11:55 AM on April 21, 2016 [19 favorites]
posted by supermedusa at 11:55 AM on April 21, 2016 [19 favorites]
I managed to add and immediately cross off "Cry in the bathroom stall after watching Cynidi Lauper perform 'When You Were Mine'", from my bucket list.
posted by josher71 at 11:55 AM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by josher71 at 11:55 AM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
Senor Cardgage says all I could say but better: but you can still tell by the world around you when something truly dazzling and brand new comes along. That was Prince. Much like Bowie, he seemed to arrive fully-formed, complete, and absolutely Other. And not Other as pejorative but as a way of expressing a person that existed according to their own self-made vocabulary.
This is essentially a loss to all humanity.
posted by Devils Rancher at 11:55 AM on April 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
This is essentially a loss to all humanity.
posted by Devils Rancher at 11:55 AM on April 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
The full extent of my brief flirtation with presumed heterosexuality boils down to three instances of boy-girl intimacy—starting with dancing with a girl named Lilah in the community hall of a campground during our Explorer Post's annual "superactivity" multistate camping journey and wrapping up with a date movie with Dawn from my tiny experimental high school that turned all fun and hilarious when it became clear that there was a problem with genetics rather than chemistry.
In-between, I had a girlfriend, Lurleen, and we had Prince. We bicycled immense distances to see Purple Rain over and over at the local theater, walking back to her trailer park behind the racetrack on the ties of the railroad line through Laurel, and would dance wildly and caterwaul along to "The Beautiful Ones" in her room with two pairs of headphones plugged into the fancy dual jacks on my Toshiba cassette like two straws in an ice cream soda in the fifties until her enormous and opinionated mom, Portia, would fling open the woodgrained accordion door to her room and shout "Y'all need to take that Prince shit outta here before you tip the fuckin' trailer over with that crazy-ass jungle dancing!"
She robbed the cash register at the convenience store at the edge of her trailer park so we could sneak out for the Purple Rain tour at the Capital Center outside of DC, just before my usual family trip to Georgia for Thanksgiving, which is how I learned that it is harder and more inconvenient for men to throw their drawers at their idol like nascent shrieking gay bobbysoxers, because once you've removed your white seersucker pants and checkerboard Vans to get your underpants off for the throw, it's entirely predictable that your pants will be kicked away with the surging crowd, leaving you crawling around, bare-assed on all fours, to find them on a floor slick with beer, sweat, and teen puke.
And her life went wrong, and my life went sideways in an ugly, awful decade for people like me, and Prince carried us with his next album when she dropped out of high school and ran away from home to go stalk Cyndi Lauper in New York, and I never needed drugs when I could just put on my headphones and go to Paisley Park, which was known 4 the people it attracts, colorful people whose hair on 1 side is swept back, and—
The smile on their faces
It speaks of profound inner peace
Ask where they're going
They'll tell U nowhere
They've taken a lifetime lease
On Paisley Park
And life carried us on and apart, and I moved in with my first boyfriend, a genuine DC-area rock star, and Sign O' The Times dropped like a sweet atomic bomb to wipe out the wretchedness of the Reagan years, and oh...my...it was like being alive during the run of the Beatles, having this insane, glorious, ruinous wonder that was that idea-choked double album land in our laps, and my girlfriend drifted off into bad times and I dropped out of high school too and set out for destinations unknown, but oh, the adventures we had when life was roaring by, all full of danger and wonder and disaster and just...it was all just 2 much 4 us and still we hung in there and clung to every moment, 8 up with our mad, racing hearts fired by the chase 4 as long we could could stand 2 fight the good fight—
And
Cynthia wore the prettiest dress
With different color socks
Sometimes I wondered if the mates where in her lunchbox
Me and Lucy opened it when Cynthia wasn't around
Lucy cried, I almost died, U know what we found?
Starfish and coffee
Maple syrup and jam
Butterscotch clouds, a tangerine
And a side order of ham
If U set your mind free, honey
Maybe you'd understand
Starfish and coffee
Maple syrup and jam
And it's been so long, and still, those places are all here, and the adventures are all here, and those moments are all here, and while I do not know if or when my life will ever be that horribly, horribly unbearably amazing again, admission is easy—just find your headphones, queue up the music, turn it up until your ears almost bleed, just say U believe and come 2 this place in your heart.
Thank you, sir, for the lifetime lease.
posted by sonascope at 11:55 AM on April 21, 2016 [104 favorites]
In-between, I had a girlfriend, Lurleen, and we had Prince. We bicycled immense distances to see Purple Rain over and over at the local theater, walking back to her trailer park behind the racetrack on the ties of the railroad line through Laurel, and would dance wildly and caterwaul along to "The Beautiful Ones" in her room with two pairs of headphones plugged into the fancy dual jacks on my Toshiba cassette like two straws in an ice cream soda in the fifties until her enormous and opinionated mom, Portia, would fling open the woodgrained accordion door to her room and shout "Y'all need to take that Prince shit outta here before you tip the fuckin' trailer over with that crazy-ass jungle dancing!"
She robbed the cash register at the convenience store at the edge of her trailer park so we could sneak out for the Purple Rain tour at the Capital Center outside of DC, just before my usual family trip to Georgia for Thanksgiving, which is how I learned that it is harder and more inconvenient for men to throw their drawers at their idol like nascent shrieking gay bobbysoxers, because once you've removed your white seersucker pants and checkerboard Vans to get your underpants off for the throw, it's entirely predictable that your pants will be kicked away with the surging crowd, leaving you crawling around, bare-assed on all fours, to find them on a floor slick with beer, sweat, and teen puke.
And her life went wrong, and my life went sideways in an ugly, awful decade for people like me, and Prince carried us with his next album when she dropped out of high school and ran away from home to go stalk Cyndi Lauper in New York, and I never needed drugs when I could just put on my headphones and go to Paisley Park, which was known 4 the people it attracts, colorful people whose hair on 1 side is swept back, and—
The smile on their faces
It speaks of profound inner peace
Ask where they're going
They'll tell U nowhere
They've taken a lifetime lease
On Paisley Park
And life carried us on and apart, and I moved in with my first boyfriend, a genuine DC-area rock star, and Sign O' The Times dropped like a sweet atomic bomb to wipe out the wretchedness of the Reagan years, and oh...my...it was like being alive during the run of the Beatles, having this insane, glorious, ruinous wonder that was that idea-choked double album land in our laps, and my girlfriend drifted off into bad times and I dropped out of high school too and set out for destinations unknown, but oh, the adventures we had when life was roaring by, all full of danger and wonder and disaster and just...it was all just 2 much 4 us and still we hung in there and clung to every moment, 8 up with our mad, racing hearts fired by the chase 4 as long we could could stand 2 fight the good fight—
And
Cynthia wore the prettiest dress
With different color socks
Sometimes I wondered if the mates where in her lunchbox
Me and Lucy opened it when Cynthia wasn't around
Lucy cried, I almost died, U know what we found?
Starfish and coffee
Maple syrup and jam
Butterscotch clouds, a tangerine
And a side order of ham
If U set your mind free, honey
Maybe you'd understand
Starfish and coffee
Maple syrup and jam
And it's been so long, and still, those places are all here, and the adventures are all here, and those moments are all here, and while I do not know if or when my life will ever be that horribly, horribly unbearably amazing again, admission is easy—just find your headphones, queue up the music, turn it up until your ears almost bleed, just say U believe and come 2 this place in your heart.
Thank you, sir, for the lifetime lease.
posted by sonascope at 11:55 AM on April 21, 2016 [104 favorites]
Nooooo! But...but... Jesus. It's not just that we've lost another celebrity or entertainer or something. We've lost another fucking genius.
.
posted by billiebee at 11:55 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
.
posted by billiebee at 11:55 AM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
Another is that we're living in a time in history where there are more entertainment stars than ever, which causes us to recognize more who are passing away.
My dad (a boomer himself) also noted that rock stars often had a rough, fairly demanding schedule--add in some of the drugs and partying that went on, and I'm not totally surprised that they're starting to pass on.
.
posted by PearlRose at 11:56 AM on April 21, 2016
My dad (a boomer himself) also noted that rock stars often had a rough, fairly demanding schedule--add in some of the drugs and partying that went on, and I'm not totally surprised that they're starting to pass on.
.
posted by PearlRose at 11:56 AM on April 21, 2016
.
posted by TrialByMedia at 11:56 AM on April 21, 2016
posted by TrialByMedia at 11:56 AM on April 21, 2016
The BBC recently made the point that the rise of TV and pop music in the 1950s and 1960s had the effect of "manufacturing" famous people at an unprecedented rate. ...
That was from last week's More or Less podcast. ( Direct link to episode)
posted by maudlin at 11:58 AM on April 21, 2016
That was from last week's More or Less podcast. ( Direct link to episode)
posted by maudlin at 11:58 AM on April 21, 2016
just thinking a lot about David Bowie and Prince right now
they are winging their eyeliner now together in the sex elf afterlife
posted by poffin boffin at 11:59 AM on April 21, 2016 [27 favorites]
they are winging their eyeliner now together in the sex elf afterlife
posted by poffin boffin at 11:59 AM on April 21, 2016 [27 favorites]
Dead at 57?! Damn, that's just so fucking wrong.
.
posted by homunculus at 11:59 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
.
posted by homunculus at 11:59 AM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
What a talent. Songwriting, persona, incredible dancer, a motherfucker of a guitar player. You can try and compare this to Bowie or Jackson, but none of them could do everything Prince did.
My kids were getting into this on the heels of Uptown Funk (which owes a shit ton to Prince) and Spotify took down Prince's catalog for a bit and I immediately paid iTunes about $100 for all the "essential" Prince for my kids, the first time I've paid for recorded music in a decade really, and it was money very well spent. My eldest son was transfixed watching all the Bowie videos after his death. Prince is going to blow his mind.
I was listening to Joe Strummer on my run earlier today and thought how rare it was for Important Artists to stay relevant as they age, and how few of those precious ones are still around. David Byrne, Prince, Springsteen.
Anyway, the candle that burns twice as bright only burns half as long.
.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 11:59 AM on April 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
My kids were getting into this on the heels of Uptown Funk (which owes a shit ton to Prince) and Spotify took down Prince's catalog for a bit and I immediately paid iTunes about $100 for all the "essential" Prince for my kids, the first time I've paid for recorded music in a decade really, and it was money very well spent. My eldest son was transfixed watching all the Bowie videos after his death. Prince is going to blow his mind.
I was listening to Joe Strummer on my run earlier today and thought how rare it was for Important Artists to stay relevant as they age, and how few of those precious ones are still around. David Byrne, Prince, Springsteen.
Anyway, the candle that burns twice as bright only burns half as long.
.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 11:59 AM on April 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
Prince's cover of Creep at Coachella 2008
posted by numaner at 12:01 PM on April 21, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by numaner at 12:01 PM on April 21, 2016 [11 favorites]
.
posted by Bob Regular at 12:02 PM on April 21, 2016
posted by Bob Regular at 12:02 PM on April 21, 2016
The 50's are a minefield.
He was an icon.
He was special.
This one is hitting me hard.
.
posted by anshuman at 12:05 PM on April 21, 2016
He was an icon.
He was special.
This one is hitting me hard.
.
posted by anshuman at 12:05 PM on April 21, 2016
So is 2016 just going to hit this planet with a comet in December, just in case?
One can hope.
posted by Devils Rancher at 12:06 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
One can hope.
posted by Devils Rancher at 12:06 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
.
i saw him on the purple rain tour at age 15. it was, in retrospect, quite literally more than i could handle. the lights dim; that familiar organ chord rings out; "dearly beloved, we are gathered here today..."; a single spotlight illuminates the center of the smoke-filled stage; and the man himself rises on a platform from beneath the stage.
posted by fingers_of_fire at 12:10 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
i saw him on the purple rain tour at age 15. it was, in retrospect, quite literally more than i could handle. the lights dim; that familiar organ chord rings out; "dearly beloved, we are gathered here today..."; a single spotlight illuminates the center of the smoke-filled stage; and the man himself rises on a platform from beneath the stage.
posted by fingers_of_fire at 12:10 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
I wore out at least two cassettes of "1999" back then.
He has gone back to his far superior planet, no doubt.
.
posted by Occula at 12:10 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
He has gone back to his far superior planet, no doubt.
.
posted by Occula at 12:10 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
“Full Albums: Prince and the Revolution’s ‘Purple Rain,’” Patrick Robbins, Cover Me, 11 November 2011
Bonus “Purple Rain” Cover: Aynsley Lister
posted by ob1quixote at 12:10 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
Bonus “Purple Rain” Cover: Aynsley Lister
posted by ob1quixote at 12:10 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
So I went into my local Just Salad for lunch. Aside from making a tasty salad that I can sort of graze on through the afternoon, everybody who works there is always incredibly friendly and professional at all times, such that it almost makes me uncomfortable sometimes, like it must be exhausting to always be smiling and chatty with everybody who comes through there.
This time, a guy named Kevin was chopping up my salad and asking what I wanted, etc, smiling ear to ear and saying my name a lot, and I was kind of distracted as I've been reading the news and everything, until suddenly his face fell and he stopped for a moment.
"I'm sorry, [Navelgazer]," he said, "I just got a blow. Prince died and I don't know what the fuck I'm supposed to do."
That about says it, I think.
posted by Navelgazer at 12:13 PM on April 21, 2016 [69 favorites]
This time, a guy named Kevin was chopping up my salad and asking what I wanted, etc, smiling ear to ear and saying my name a lot, and I was kind of distracted as I've been reading the news and everything, until suddenly his face fell and he stopped for a moment.
"I'm sorry, [Navelgazer]," he said, "I just got a blow. Prince died and I don't know what the fuck I'm supposed to do."
That about says it, I think.
posted by Navelgazer at 12:13 PM on April 21, 2016 [69 favorites]
In high school I worked at a movie theater in Minneapolis called the Suburban World. Purple Rain had just been released and as we only had one screen that was all that we played for weeks. One of my co-workers designed Prince's shoes.
When I moved to Europe in the 80's and would mention that I was from Minneapolis I'd always get a one-word response back: Prince.
The Prince stories run wild and deep in these parts.
posted by misterpatrick at 12:16 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
When I moved to Europe in the 80's and would mention that I was from Minneapolis I'd always get a one-word response back: Prince.
The Prince stories run wild and deep in these parts.
posted by misterpatrick at 12:16 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
Who says you don't make friends with salad?
posted by Strange Interlude at 12:16 PM on April 21, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by Strange Interlude at 12:16 PM on April 21, 2016 [9 favorites]
Similarly, the cashier at the grocery store I just bought my salad from said "Have a great day" as I paid and it took all of my impulse control to not say "How? Prince just died."
posted by MCMikeNamara at 12:17 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by MCMikeNamara at 12:17 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
Visiting friends in MN, I saw The Doves play at First Avenue in 2001. Halfway through their set, the guys in the band literally stopped playing and started geeking out about the fact that they were playing in Prince's hometown at FIRST AVENUE! They just couldn't believe it. So, yeah...in addition to being a world-famous mega-genius, Prince was/is basically a tutelary deity for the Twin Cities. My thoughts are with all the Twin Cities peeps tonight...
posted by Bob Regular at 12:18 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Bob Regular at 12:18 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
My clearest memory of his personal impact on me was being at some kid's birthday party when I was 12 or so. I had a new Walkman. I was Not Like The Other Kids, so I mostly sat on the stairs and listened to Purple Rain. The kid's parents were concerned about me so they tried to engage me by asking what I was listening to. They left me alone after that, probably figuring I was a bad influence.
posted by AFABulous at 12:18 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by AFABulous at 12:18 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Another small-town kid from a fundy family and surrounded by conservative folk here, with friends who were all secretly (by necessity back then) Different. Lesbian, gay, transgender, genderfluid... Prince was the reason I watched TV. I had no money for albums, but we did have cable, and in the 80s you could see actual music videos. Prince came on often. Thanks to him, I knew it was okay to be yourself. It wasn't just something you read in books, or were warned against with dire hellfire consequences, or were beat up after school or had your locker broken into – here was a guy from the Midwest being himself and loving it, and being a kickass musician on top of it.
Thank you, Prince.
posted by fraula at 12:18 PM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
Thank you, Prince.
posted by fraula at 12:18 PM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
"I just got a blow. Prince died and I don't know what the fuck I'm supposed to do."
turn on the radio
posted by philip-random at 12:19 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
turn on the radio
posted by philip-random at 12:19 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
> Prince died and I don't know what the fuck I'm supposed to do.
This is what it's like in my office today for a bunch of us. Wandering the halls going what are we supposed to do?
posted by rtha at 12:19 PM on April 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
This is what it's like in my office today for a bunch of us. Wandering the halls going what are we supposed to do?
posted by rtha at 12:19 PM on April 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
they are winging their eyeliner now together in the sex elf afterlife
Spotted on Twitter: God's Fantasy Sex League is complete
posted by Kabanos at 12:19 PM on April 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
Spotted on Twitter: God's Fantasy Sex League is complete
posted by Kabanos at 12:19 PM on April 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
My all-time favorite article about Prince -- "What's in Prince's Fridge"
posted by devinemissk at 12:20 PM on April 21, 2016 [40 favorites]
posted by devinemissk at 12:20 PM on April 21, 2016 [40 favorites]
I do think Freddie Mercury was in heaven just waiting on Bowie and Prince with like some pots of makeup and glitter.
posted by zutalors! at 12:20 PM on April 21, 2016 [13 favorites]
posted by zutalors! at 12:20 PM on April 21, 2016 [13 favorites]
While I didn't lose my virginity to Purple Rain, hot damn we fucked a bunch to it. I'm in my mid forties and I still get a butt clench plus the slow walk if "The Beautiful Ones" is audible.
Prince was like the Douglas Adams of music.
posted by Sphinx at 12:23 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
Prince was like the Douglas Adams of music.
posted by Sphinx at 12:23 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
I am at work and trying to hold it together so I'm not going to read the comments right now.
The only celebrity deaths that have hit me harder than this, though, were Joey Ramone and Douglas Adams. Very few other artists has as much of an imprint on my young psyche than these three.
.
posted by bibliogrrl at 12:24 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
The only celebrity deaths that have hit me harder than this, though, were Joey Ramone and Douglas Adams. Very few other artists has as much of an imprint on my young psyche than these three.
.
posted by bibliogrrl at 12:24 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
OMG, that link about Prince's fridge has given me life
and I did not know he was vegan
so damn cool
posted by Kitteh at 12:24 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
and I did not know he was vegan
so damn cool
posted by Kitteh at 12:24 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
.
posted by Samuel Farrow at 12:24 PM on April 21, 2016
posted by Samuel Farrow at 12:24 PM on April 21, 2016
DUNK A ROOS
posted by poffin boffin at 12:25 PM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 12:25 PM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
If anyone had the claim to being the Mozart of our time, it was Prince.
Godspeed.
posted by Capt. Renault at 12:25 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Godspeed.
posted by Capt. Renault at 12:25 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Chicagoans: Purple Rain is scheduled to show in Millennium Park on Tuesday, Aug. 23rd. This was previously announced. Might become quite a thing to do now.
posted by dnash at 12:26 PM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by dnash at 12:26 PM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
Re: fridge
Also all the mustards and yak milk, given freely by the yak. But like. All the mustards.
posted by zutalors! at 12:27 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Also all the mustards and yak milk, given freely by the yak. But like. All the mustards.
posted by zutalors! at 12:27 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
I'm listening to this mixtape that was linked earlier and there's no track listing, so songs just kind of come up, and I'm being reminded really forcefully that music is a time machine. Songs I haven't listened to in years, or thought about much in years, start and I'm immediately transported back to a room or a moment or a group of people.
posted by rtha at 12:27 PM on April 21, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by rtha at 12:27 PM on April 21, 2016 [11 favorites]
There should be some sort of brief disarmament, and amnesty period, when someone dies during which you can easily stream their music. Because yeah, I have all the Prince I want, but it is all at home on vinyl, and I'm at work and I frigging NEED to be playing the hell out of Dorothy Parker, and Housequake, and Why You Wanna Treat me So Bad. And When You Were Mine. And then Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad again, mostly this time for that solo on the fadeout that is just fucking insane.
Oh, Prince, you were so god damn good.
Shut up already.
Damn.
posted by dirtdirt at 12:27 PM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
Oh, Prince, you were so god damn good.
Shut up already.
Damn.
posted by dirtdirt at 12:27 PM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
> It feels like 2016 is a slow creative Rapture.
And I saw an angel come down unto me
In her hand she holds the very key
Words of compassion, words of peace
And in the distance an army's marching feet
But behold, we will watch them fall
Man, I just. Man. RIP Prince. I don't believe I'll ever see your like again.
posted by Brak at 12:27 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
And I saw an angel come down unto me
In her hand she holds the very key
Words of compassion, words of peace
And in the distance an army's marching feet
But behold, we will watch them fall
Man, I just. Man. RIP Prince. I don't believe I'll ever see your like again.
posted by Brak at 12:27 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
GIVEN FREELY BY THE YAK
posted by poffin boffin at 12:27 PM on April 21, 2016 [17 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 12:27 PM on April 21, 2016 [17 favorites]
Sometimes it snows in April .
(so sad right now)
posted by marimeko at 12:27 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
(so sad right now)
posted by marimeko at 12:27 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Maybe he's just gone to purify himself in the waters of Lake Minnetonka.
.
posted by praemunire at 12:29 PM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
.
posted by praemunire at 12:29 PM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
THIS IS THE ONLY THING THAT TOUCHES MY WAFFLES
posted by poffin boffin at 12:30 PM on April 21, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 12:30 PM on April 21, 2016 [10 favorites]
i am verklempt
posted by poffin boffin at 12:30 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by poffin boffin at 12:30 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
☮✝☪🕉☸✡🔯🕎☯☦♋️♐️
posted by shiu mai baby at 12:32 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by shiu mai baby at 12:32 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
...pancakes
posted by ostranenie at 12:33 PM on April 21, 2016
posted by ostranenie at 12:33 PM on April 21, 2016
Prince performing "Starfish and Coffee" on Muppets Tonight.
somewhere on the funky astral plane i hope he is finally getting his side order of ham
posted by murphy slaw at 12:34 PM on April 21, 2016 [12 favorites]
somewhere on the funky astral plane i hope he is finally getting his side order of ham
posted by murphy slaw at 12:34 PM on April 21, 2016 [12 favorites]
.
posted by vibrotronica at 12:35 PM on April 21, 2016
posted by vibrotronica at 12:35 PM on April 21, 2016
And out come the rumors of HIV+ status.
posted by Senor Cardgage at 12:37 PM on April 21, 2016
posted by Senor Cardgage at 12:37 PM on April 21, 2016
He was so unique and so talented, it boggles the mind. There are myriad different kinds of uniqueness, of course, but Prince's high-heeled, purple glitter-covered boots will never be filled. Getting through this thing called life has been a little easier and more joyous with his music in play. I'm glad he left us with so much, but I wish for more.....
posted by but no cigar at 12:37 PM on April 21, 2016
posted by but no cigar at 12:37 PM on April 21, 2016
THIS IS THE ONLY THING THAT TOUCHES MY WAFFLES
Is fake though? Well let's pretend not.
posted by zutalors! at 12:39 PM on April 21, 2016
Is fake though? Well let's pretend not.
posted by zutalors! at 12:39 PM on April 21, 2016
Maybe he's just gone to purify himself in the waters of Lake Minnetonka.
That ain't Lake Minnetonka.
posted by sonascope at 12:39 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
That ain't Lake Minnetonka.
posted by sonascope at 12:39 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
Please, dont get me started on Nothing Compares To You. We'd be here all day, and it's almost three already.
posted by Sphinx at 12:40 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Sphinx at 12:40 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
If youre looking for a radio tribute, here is one that is running strong (loads in iTunes) since Minnesota Public Radio's Commodore 64 sadly seems to not be up to the task of serving a radio show to every living being.
posted by Senor Cardgage at 12:40 PM on April 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by Senor Cardgage at 12:40 PM on April 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
The Purple Rain movie was also my first date
One of the first movies I ever saw by myself at the theater was Graffiti Bridge. I was kind of a middle school lothario and brought a girl, another 8th grader who went by Boots because she wore long black motorcycle boots for no reason, with me to Wheaton Plaza to make out. We really had no idea what we were going to see. The movie started and we started making out. 5 minutes in and we broke off....what the hell were we watching? 15 minutes in we were separated, rapt, confused, bewildered and delighted by the crazy sex angel on the screen. Immediately afterward I purchased the soundtrack on cassette at Kemp Mill, and wore out the title track. Boots, wherever you are, I'm sorry for your loss as well.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 12:41 PM on April 21, 2016 [12 favorites]
One of the first movies I ever saw by myself at the theater was Graffiti Bridge. I was kind of a middle school lothario and brought a girl, another 8th grader who went by Boots because she wore long black motorcycle boots for no reason, with me to Wheaton Plaza to make out. We really had no idea what we were going to see. The movie started and we started making out. 5 minutes in and we broke off....what the hell were we watching? 15 minutes in we were separated, rapt, confused, bewildered and delighted by the crazy sex angel on the screen. Immediately afterward I purchased the soundtrack on cassette at Kemp Mill, and wore out the title track. Boots, wherever you are, I'm sorry for your loss as well.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 12:41 PM on April 21, 2016 [12 favorites]
NO
HOW DARE
i will now devote my life to mercilessly slaughtering perpetrators of april fools jokes
posted by poffin boffin at 12:41 PM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
HOW DARE
i will now devote my life to mercilessly slaughtering perpetrators of april fools jokes
posted by poffin boffin at 12:41 PM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
Questlove: The Time I went rollerskating with Prince
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 12:42 PM on April 21, 2016 [22 favorites]
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 12:42 PM on April 21, 2016 [22 favorites]
I was on a plane when the news broke, and heard about it right after I landed. I want to be in the air again, when I didn't know...
posted by ersatzkat at 12:45 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by ersatzkat at 12:45 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
CHIRP - Chicago Independent Radio Project is doing a nice tribute
posted by readery at 12:45 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by readery at 12:45 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Losing Prince hurts almost as much as losing Bowie.
I dunno, I mean I knew that Bowie was getting old, but Prince didn't even age, he just kept delivering at a level that made you wonder if he had ever been an ordinary human (him and Janelle, but at least she's not hiding it :-). As noted, there's not a lot of good-quality Prince stuff on YouTube, but I can at least drop in a couple of clips from the Arsenio Hall Show in 2014, with The New Power Generation (covering The Family) and 3RDEYEGIRL.
posted by effbot at 12:45 PM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
I dunno, I mean I knew that Bowie was getting old, but Prince didn't even age, he just kept delivering at a level that made you wonder if he had ever been an ordinary human (him and Janelle, but at least she's not hiding it :-). As noted, there's not a lot of good-quality Prince stuff on YouTube, but I can at least drop in a couple of clips from the Arsenio Hall Show in 2014, with The New Power Generation (covering The Family) and 3RDEYEGIRL.
posted by effbot at 12:45 PM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
side order of ham
oh, christ, i was literally just singing this while watering plants the other day. bopping along happily.
i just remembered being in 8th grade and getting into a well-actually argument with these girls who insisted that in let's go crazy it was the "elevated" trying to bring you down, like people who thought they were better than you, and i was all, no, no, you don't understand, elevator, you're punching a higher floor, but they were like, no, no.
when was i ever in 8th grade knowing those lyrics? it doesn't even make sense.
posted by mittens at 12:47 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
oh, christ, i was literally just singing this while watering plants the other day. bopping along happily.
i just remembered being in 8th grade and getting into a well-actually argument with these girls who insisted that in let's go crazy it was the "elevated" trying to bring you down, like people who thought they were better than you, and i was all, no, no, you don't understand, elevator, you're punching a higher floor, but they were like, no, no.
when was i ever in 8th grade knowing those lyrics? it doesn't even make sense.
posted by mittens at 12:47 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
My favorite moment from his show at The Forum five years ago was when he looked out at the audience and stated a simple fact:
"We're all getting older...but I still look the same."
The crowd roared in approval.
posted by roger ackroyd at 12:49 PM on April 21, 2016 [20 favorites]
"We're all getting older...but I still look the same."
The crowd roared in approval.
posted by roger ackroyd at 12:49 PM on April 21, 2016 [20 favorites]
My heart is broken. I just...can't.
Just check out his recent passport photo, which was sexy as fuck.
That man was sex on feet. He was the personification of hot, joyful, unapologetic sensuality. Christ, what a loss.
posted by MissySedai at 12:50 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
Just check out his recent passport photo, which was sexy as fuck.
That man was sex on feet. He was the personification of hot, joyful, unapologetic sensuality. Christ, what a loss.
posted by MissySedai at 12:50 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
My fav 'tribute' to Prince. Whenever we get/make pancakes, we say, "Nice game, bitches."
posted by cooker girl at 12:52 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by cooker girl at 12:52 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Well, shit.
Nothing compared 2 that skinny motherfucker with the high voice. Dude woll be sorely missed.
.
posted by Trinity-Gehenna at 12:52 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Nothing compared 2 that skinny motherfucker with the high voice. Dude woll be sorely missed.
.
posted by Trinity-Gehenna at 12:52 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
.
posted by trip and a half at 12:52 PM on April 21, 2016
posted by trip and a half at 12:52 PM on April 21, 2016
I haven't been a lifelong Prince fan and for the longest time I really didn't care for him much at all. I grew up in a super conservative Christian household and in the mid-90s when we got an Internet connection and I started exploring music on IRC channels I swung hard in the opposite direction and got super into punk and metal etc. At the time whenever I heard Prince on the radio it was something like "Kiss" that was essentially the musical inverse of what I was so into. By the late 90s he was doing his reclusive anti-music industry thing and I didn't really pay that much attention, thinking I basically knew what the guy was about and that he just wasn't for me.
Then, years later, I saw that halftime show performance. Holy fuck, it blew my goddamn mind. He started off with "Let's Go Crazy," which I'm sure I'd heard several times before, but never like that. The mix is insane, it's basically just his voice, very low drum mix, and Prince fucking SHREDDING. And not that thin, tinny 80s guitar sound. A fucking dirty, fat, like stoner metal thick guitar tone, and he's just strutting around haphazardly palm muting his way through some oohs and ahs before tearing into another crazy solo. I was like wait, what the fuck??? This is the same guy I'd heard quietly on the radio playing in a froyo place and written off in my tween and teen hubris as someone I didn't care for?
I don't know what the next song is that he starts, as the marching band comes in from the side, before he transitions into fucking CCR, the crowd's going nuts, and someone on the ground hands him a guitar that matches his suit and the crowd gets quiet again. He starts riffing something bluesy and actually says "all along the watchtower," but I couldn't tell where the music was going... then all of a sudden, again it's one of those only Prince vocals and guitar and barely any drums mixes and he's just HOWLING out that insane "Best of You" cover (which I only learned years later was basically meant as a "fuck you" to the Foo Fighters for covering Darling Nikki against his ill - and can you imagine a better fuck you than Prince playing the definitive version of a song you wrote and recorded, just out of spite?) and then its own searing solo while the background vocalists are going on but he's too busy striding down the stage, god knows how he's not falling on his ass because the rain is really coming down at this point and the stage is soaking wet, and he ends it on that kind of hoarse last chorus.
And then. They hand him the Prince symbol-shaped guitar and fireworks are firing all around the stadium rim and the piano comes in and he launches into Purple Rain, in the middle of the rain, the crowd all around is going nuts, he's just wiping pools of rain out of his own hair, "Don't it feel good?", "Can I play this guitar?", that sheet blows up into the air and there's just the shadow of that tiny man, must have been 20 feet tall, just doing dirty things on his fretboard again. And the marching band, and he's just falsetto wailing, doves circling around in the air, he ends holding his guitar into the sky like someone who just won a trophy, the stadium is going insane.... the whole thing blew my mind.
So obviously I went and borrowed all of my girlfriend's CDs and went and bought a bunch of other stuff and it turns out, he's fucking fantastic and I feel like an idiot for not having known sooner. And nobody ever has beaten that halftime show, and I have no doubt no one ever will
posted by cobra_high_tigers at 12:53 PM on April 21, 2016 [91 favorites]
Then, years later, I saw that halftime show performance. Holy fuck, it blew my goddamn mind. He started off with "Let's Go Crazy," which I'm sure I'd heard several times before, but never like that. The mix is insane, it's basically just his voice, very low drum mix, and Prince fucking SHREDDING. And not that thin, tinny 80s guitar sound. A fucking dirty, fat, like stoner metal thick guitar tone, and he's just strutting around haphazardly palm muting his way through some oohs and ahs before tearing into another crazy solo. I was like wait, what the fuck??? This is the same guy I'd heard quietly on the radio playing in a froyo place and written off in my tween and teen hubris as someone I didn't care for?
I don't know what the next song is that he starts, as the marching band comes in from the side, before he transitions into fucking CCR, the crowd's going nuts, and someone on the ground hands him a guitar that matches his suit and the crowd gets quiet again. He starts riffing something bluesy and actually says "all along the watchtower," but I couldn't tell where the music was going... then all of a sudden, again it's one of those only Prince vocals and guitar and barely any drums mixes and he's just HOWLING out that insane "Best of You" cover (which I only learned years later was basically meant as a "fuck you" to the Foo Fighters for covering Darling Nikki against his ill - and can you imagine a better fuck you than Prince playing the definitive version of a song you wrote and recorded, just out of spite?) and then its own searing solo while the background vocalists are going on but he's too busy striding down the stage, god knows how he's not falling on his ass because the rain is really coming down at this point and the stage is soaking wet, and he ends it on that kind of hoarse last chorus.
And then. They hand him the Prince symbol-shaped guitar and fireworks are firing all around the stadium rim and the piano comes in and he launches into Purple Rain, in the middle of the rain, the crowd all around is going nuts, he's just wiping pools of rain out of his own hair, "Don't it feel good?", "Can I play this guitar?", that sheet blows up into the air and there's just the shadow of that tiny man, must have been 20 feet tall, just doing dirty things on his fretboard again. And the marching band, and he's just falsetto wailing, doves circling around in the air, he ends holding his guitar into the sky like someone who just won a trophy, the stadium is going insane.... the whole thing blew my mind.
So obviously I went and borrowed all of my girlfriend's CDs and went and bought a bunch of other stuff and it turns out, he's fucking fantastic and I feel like an idiot for not having known sooner. And nobody ever has beaten that halftime show, and I have no doubt no one ever will
posted by cobra_high_tigers at 12:53 PM on April 21, 2016 [91 favorites]
Just the other day. Just the fucking other day I was out for late-night drinks with a friend, and we were huddled in the corner of the bar talking about how grateful we are that Prince still exists. Existed. Fuck.
Because, we were saying, with Bowie gone, what other trailblazers of splendid strangeness remain? Which living people fit the description of "insanely talented and also could genuinely legitimately be from another planet"? And we thanked whatever gods exist, or existed, for Prince.
I remember being 11 or 12 in '84, at the house of a friend who was lucky enough to have a copy of Purple Rain, reading the lyrics on the record sleeve and puzzling out all the 2s and 4s and Us so I could learn the words and sing along. Another of my classmates, Karenna Gore, got caught by her mom listening to "Darling Nikki" and her mom flipped out and that's why "Parental Advisory: Explicit Lyrics" stickers happened.
Later, one of my closest London friends and I were learning Italian. We tested our translation skills with "Mi chiamo Prince e sono funky" (closely followed by "non mi chiamo ancora Prince, ma sono funky comunque").
He was the soundtrack of my years. Infuriatingly, the Powers That Be have done a really good job of keeping his songs off the various internet video repositories so that we can't collectively mourn.
Oh you wild, strange, beautiful, meteoric man. Goodnight, sweet Prince.
posted by Pallas Athena at 12:53 PM on April 21, 2016 [28 favorites]
Because, we were saying, with Bowie gone, what other trailblazers of splendid strangeness remain? Which living people fit the description of "insanely talented and also could genuinely legitimately be from another planet"? And we thanked whatever gods exist, or existed, for Prince.
I remember being 11 or 12 in '84, at the house of a friend who was lucky enough to have a copy of Purple Rain, reading the lyrics on the record sleeve and puzzling out all the 2s and 4s and Us so I could learn the words and sing along. Another of my classmates, Karenna Gore, got caught by her mom listening to "Darling Nikki" and her mom flipped out and that's why "Parental Advisory: Explicit Lyrics" stickers happened.
Later, one of my closest London friends and I were learning Italian. We tested our translation skills with "Mi chiamo Prince e sono funky" (closely followed by "non mi chiamo ancora Prince, ma sono funky comunque").
He was the soundtrack of my years. Infuriatingly, the Powers That Be have done a really good job of keeping his songs off the various internet video repositories so that we can't collectively mourn.
Oh you wild, strange, beautiful, meteoric man. Goodnight, sweet Prince.
posted by Pallas Athena at 12:53 PM on April 21, 2016 [28 favorites]
Minnesota Public Radio needs to send someone out buy more bandwidth today at Bandwidth Barn or whatever.
posted by Senor Cardgage at 12:57 PM on April 21, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by Senor Cardgage at 12:57 PM on April 21, 2016 [12 favorites]
D.M.S.R. over and over
posted by vicusofrecirculation at 12:58 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by vicusofrecirculation at 12:58 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
Couple of covers you might have missed:
Gary Numan - U Got the Look
Laibach - The Cross
posted by Trinity-Gehenna at 1:00 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
Gary Numan - U Got the Look
Laibach - The Cross
posted by Trinity-Gehenna at 1:00 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
I'm in shock. He was an amazing talent. I was lucky to have seen him 5 times. The first was the original Purple Rain tour at the old Spectrum in Philly. Sheila E opened and then Prince started with Lets Go Crazy and after the sermon part, these fake flowers came raining down on us, that whole night is etched in my brain. I have yet to see a better performer with regard to talent, showmanship, and energy.
So sad.
.
posted by NoraCharles at 1:04 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
So sad.
.
posted by NoraCharles at 1:04 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
So...I'm gonna tell my Prince story to this virtual wake. I'm a journalist and just spent a few hours interviewing shocked museum curators about Prince's passing and writing a story about his artifacts, but the whole time I was reliving something from earlier in my life that really encapsulates What The Artist Meant To Me.
I was 21 and in a horrible relationship and just lost in life. I was living in Los Angeles. My boyfriend and I went out dancing to some club in Silverlake. It was a meh kind of night and we (boyfriend and I) were on the skids but couldn't acknowledge it and didn't break up forever. So we're kind of halfheardedly dancing...and then Prince's "Kiss" comes on. I am not the greatest dancer, but all of a sudden I started busting a move. And so did a guy standing near me. Suddenly we began to move into one another's orbit, dancing to this song. Suddenly we were dancing TOGETHER. To KISS.
I don't know how it happened but we danced the HELL out of that song. Like we were professionals. I didn't even remember that my boyfriend was in the room. I just danced with this guy to Kiss. Our eyes were locked. It was magic. We danced our asses off. We were sweating. People cleared a damn circle around us and were watching.
At the very end of the song, at Prince's last chirpy "kiss," this man dipped me in his arm and kissed me. In front of the entire club. I kissed him back.
Then, I turned back to my crappy, wrong boyfriend and my random dance partner walked away and we never saw each other again.
It just...stopped. And the DJ put on another song, and the crowd went back to normal, and I went back to my shitty life. But it wasn't normal with me, ever again. I feel like I got back a part of myself that night, the part of me that's awesome and dances to Prince. It sustained me through the years of that terrible relationship, the little feeling inside that I'm the type of girl who is kissed by a stranger to the strains of Prince's 'Kiss." Thank you, Prince, for giving me back that part of myself.
posted by mynameisluka at 1:05 PM on April 21, 2016 [155 favorites]
I was 21 and in a horrible relationship and just lost in life. I was living in Los Angeles. My boyfriend and I went out dancing to some club in Silverlake. It was a meh kind of night and we (boyfriend and I) were on the skids but couldn't acknowledge it and didn't break up forever. So we're kind of halfheardedly dancing...and then Prince's "Kiss" comes on. I am not the greatest dancer, but all of a sudden I started busting a move. And so did a guy standing near me. Suddenly we began to move into one another's orbit, dancing to this song. Suddenly we were dancing TOGETHER. To KISS.
I don't know how it happened but we danced the HELL out of that song. Like we were professionals. I didn't even remember that my boyfriend was in the room. I just danced with this guy to Kiss. Our eyes were locked. It was magic. We danced our asses off. We were sweating. People cleared a damn circle around us and were watching.
At the very end of the song, at Prince's last chirpy "kiss," this man dipped me in his arm and kissed me. In front of the entire club. I kissed him back.
Then, I turned back to my crappy, wrong boyfriend and my random dance partner walked away and we never saw each other again.
It just...stopped. And the DJ put on another song, and the crowd went back to normal, and I went back to my shitty life. But it wasn't normal with me, ever again. I feel like I got back a part of myself that night, the part of me that's awesome and dances to Prince. It sustained me through the years of that terrible relationship, the little feeling inside that I'm the type of girl who is kissed by a stranger to the strains of Prince's 'Kiss." Thank you, Prince, for giving me back that part of myself.
posted by mynameisluka at 1:05 PM on April 21, 2016 [155 favorites]
What David Bowie was to white kids who didn't fit in, Prince was to black kids. He gave young African Americans growing up in Harlem or St. Louis or Watts the license to be who they wanted to be, not what society thought they should be.
posted by Kitteh at 1:06 PM on April 21, 2016 [46 favorites]
posted by Kitteh at 1:06 PM on April 21, 2016 [46 favorites]
Springsteen is going to do a hell of a live tribute to this man.
posted by josher71 at 1:07 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by josher71 at 1:07 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
.
posted by get off of my cloud at 1:08 PM on April 21, 2016
posted by get off of my cloud at 1:08 PM on April 21, 2016
This really really hurts, and I avoided coming here to the front page to find this thread because I didn't want to really face it. Sure enough, the thread has me choked up based on just the few comments I've read. I can't believe the few months we've had. I'm still getting over crying on the subway into work the other day listening the After Hours.
Just his morning I saw an add in the Washington Post for shows this summer at the Charles Town racetrack out in West Virginia. The headliners are State Fair level. One of them was Morris Day. And I spent a few minutes in reverie thinking about Prince and everyone he has touched and all the music he's made.
Imma take another bubble bath, with my pants on, until the [dying] stops...
posted by OmieWise at 1:10 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Just his morning I saw an add in the Washington Post for shows this summer at the Charles Town racetrack out in West Virginia. The headliners are State Fair level. One of them was Morris Day. And I spent a few minutes in reverie thinking about Prince and everyone he has touched and all the music he's made.
Imma take another bubble bath, with my pants on, until the [dying] stops...
posted by OmieWise at 1:10 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
President Obama's statement on the passing of Prince
posted by anastasiav at 1:10 PM on April 21, 2016 [16 favorites]
posted by anastasiav at 1:10 PM on April 21, 2016 [16 favorites]
I have four Prince postcards from the late 80s and early 90s. I wanted to send them out today, scrawled with Prince lyrics. I posted this to Facebook, and within 10 minutes they were all claimed.
Now I'm putting together what I'm going to copy. Lyrics from the albums/songs represented are incredibly filthy, but that's Prince. I'm also adding other Prince lyrics, and it just hit me that there's no way I'm going to get through this without bawling. On some level I knew that, I guess.
I was dreamin' when I wrote this, so sue me if I go too fast
But life is just a party and parties weren't meant to last
War is all around us, my mind says prepare to fight
So if I gotta die I'm gonna listen to my body tonight
posted by mountmccabe at 1:12 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
Now I'm putting together what I'm going to copy. Lyrics from the albums/songs represented are incredibly filthy, but that's Prince. I'm also adding other Prince lyrics, and it just hit me that there's no way I'm going to get through this without bawling. On some level I knew that, I guess.
I was dreamin' when I wrote this, so sue me if I go too fast
But life is just a party and parties weren't meant to last
War is all around us, my mind says prepare to fight
So if I gotta die I'm gonna listen to my body tonight
posted by mountmccabe at 1:12 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
Nation Too Sad To Fuck Even Though It’s What Prince Would Have Wanted
posted by neroli at 1:13 PM on April 21, 2016 [72 favorites]
posted by neroli at 1:13 PM on April 21, 2016 [72 favorites]
And, you know, honestly there is no way to say how much Prince meant to me or everything that that guy brought into my life. I wasn't a super fan, I was just a big big fan. There are times I would go away from Prince entirely and not really think about him. But his music was always there in a way that even bands or people that I liked at some times much more than I liked Prince were not.
I did not have a very good time my first year of college. Sign O' the Times really really got me through, in a way that few records have ever gotten me through something as completely or over as long a term. Again, there have been other records that I thought at some point were more important, or better, or whatever, but a lot of them I can't remember. I remember walking around shitty Pittsburgh in shitty weather surrounded by shitty people, listening to Prince on my walkman. I remember how very important that was.
posted by OmieWise at 1:17 PM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
I did not have a very good time my first year of college. Sign O' the Times really really got me through, in a way that few records have ever gotten me through something as completely or over as long a term. Again, there have been other records that I thought at some point were more important, or better, or whatever, but a lot of them I can't remember. I remember walking around shitty Pittsburgh in shitty weather surrounded by shitty people, listening to Prince on my walkman. I remember how very important that was.
posted by OmieWise at 1:17 PM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
I heard the news on NPR, and one of the people on-air said how Prince songs don't seem to age.
Still feeling a bit stunned, I put on "Sign 'O' the Times" and Prince sings "You turn on the radio and every other story is telling you somebody's died".
And yes, that song still sounds brand new and fabulous.
posted by w0mbat at 1:21 PM on April 21, 2016 [22 favorites]
Still feeling a bit stunned, I put on "Sign 'O' the Times" and Prince sings "You turn on the radio and every other story is telling you somebody's died".
And yes, that song still sounds brand new and fabulous.
posted by w0mbat at 1:21 PM on April 21, 2016 [22 favorites]
I’d not heard before I saw this post - saw his name and began to smile, then read on & said ‘no!’ And then just thinking about the way he said ‘no!’ at the beginning of Alphabet St.…
I love his music and am sad & shocked & upset that he died so young.
posted by misteraitch at 1:33 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
I love his music and am sad & shocked & upset that he died so young.
posted by misteraitch at 1:33 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
To think about his output and many years in the industry and compare it to 57... too soon, too soon.
He was a gift and I was / am a lifelong fan.
REST IN POWER.
.
posted by Julnyes at 1:33 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
He was a gift and I was / am a lifelong fan.
REST IN POWER.
.
posted by Julnyes at 1:33 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
.
This is the first time I have heard about the death of a celebrity where I have been legitimately sad. Not just some vague feeling of "too bad" but seriously sad. I have always loved Prince and I personally think he is probably the most talented pop musician ever, but I didn't realize how much actual loss I would feel at his death.
posted by bove at 1:37 PM on April 21, 2016 [11 favorites]
This is the first time I have heard about the death of a celebrity where I have been legitimately sad. Not just some vague feeling of "too bad" but seriously sad. I have always loved Prince and I personally think he is probably the most talented pop musician ever, but I didn't realize how much actual loss I would feel at his death.
posted by bove at 1:37 PM on April 21, 2016 [11 favorites]
Charlie Murphy on Prince - basketball and pancakes. Prince played by David Chappelle.
posted by clawsoon at 1:42 PM on April 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by clawsoon at 1:42 PM on April 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
.
posted by bonobothegreat at 1:43 PM on April 21, 2016
posted by bonobothegreat at 1:43 PM on April 21, 2016
In a lot of ways, Prince reminds me of Dylan and Springsteen in that while all three had respect for their forbears, they all followed their own vision, no matter how far afield it led them, to create mutant forms all their own.
posted by jonmc at 1:49 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by jonmc at 1:49 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
"...and if the elevator tries to break you down - go crazy, punch a higher floor!"
He was found unresponsive in an elevator.
I guess he did punch a higher floor.
That comforts me.
posted by NoraCharles at 1:49 PM on April 21, 2016 [12 favorites]
He was found unresponsive in an elevator.
I guess he did punch a higher floor.
That comforts me.
posted by NoraCharles at 1:49 PM on April 21, 2016 [12 favorites]
At the airport having a beer before my flight reading this thread. They just played Bowie and now Raspberry Beret is on.
My life story has it own perfect soundtrack for theses few minutes.
.
posted by Jalliah at 1:51 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
My life story has it own perfect soundtrack for theses few minutes.
.
posted by Jalliah at 1:51 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
.
posted by limeonaire at 1:51 PM on April 21, 2016
posted by limeonaire at 1:51 PM on April 21, 2016
clawsoon, I'm too busy to find the reference, but ISTR that Prince has basically confirmed Murphy's tale as essentially correct, which just makes it all the more awesome.
posted by uberchet at 1:55 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by uberchet at 1:55 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
Listening to that Minnesota NPR station that's streaming Prince music. They're playing the Purple Rain album. But just skipped "I Would Die 4 U." I was like "hey, they skipped.... oh. right. That was probably on purpose."
posted by dnash at 1:58 PM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by dnash at 1:58 PM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
Shine on, you magnificent elfin rock star.
.
posted by Diagonalize at 1:58 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
.
posted by Diagonalize at 1:58 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Fall 1983. Berkeley, CA. Blue House party. Justin Wang rocking out to DMSR.
posted by Edward L at 2:02 PM on April 21, 2016
posted by Edward L at 2:02 PM on April 21, 2016
When I was 14, my friend's amazing mom took us to the Prince concert at the Hartford Civic Center. It was during the Musicology tour and it was the second greatest night of my life, second only to the night that I proposed. I'm so grateful that I got to see that.
Nthing everyone above who said that Prince saved their weird queer youth. I remember when I heard "Gett Off" for the first time and I was astonished that anything could be so sex positive, before I even knew what sex positive was.
Now if you need me, I'll be watching MTV until they stop showing his videos.
posted by zeusianfog at 2:03 PM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
Nthing everyone above who said that Prince saved their weird queer youth. I remember when I heard "Gett Off" for the first time and I was astonished that anything could be so sex positive, before I even knew what sex positive was.
Now if you need me, I'll be watching MTV until they stop showing his videos.
posted by zeusianfog at 2:03 PM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
Not sure if this is going to help, but it's worth a try:
2016
[CTRL] [ALT] [DELETE]
posted by New Frontier at 2:03 PM on April 21, 2016 [9 favorites]
2016
[CTRL] [ALT] [DELETE]
posted by New Frontier at 2:03 PM on April 21, 2016 [9 favorites]
The BBC news have led with the news about Prince over the Queens 90th birthday.
This seems somehow right.
Edit: well they did on the news channel at least.
posted by barnsoir at 2:08 PM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
This seems somehow right.
Edit: well they did on the news channel at least.
posted by barnsoir at 2:08 PM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
MN Twins veterans make sure rookies know the words to "Little Red Corvette"
posted by jillithd at 2:17 PM on April 21, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by jillithd at 2:17 PM on April 21, 2016 [9 favorites]
Prince had a special relationship with the City of Toronto. He performed there numerous times over the years - most recently, less than a month ago (March 25).
He was married to a woman from Toronto and resided there a decade ago.
I was going to suggest that the CN Tower be lit in purple tonight in honour of him.
By bizarre coincidence, the Tower will be lit in purple and gold this evening - in honour of Queen Elizabeth's 90th Birthday.
But I'll gaze at it this evening and think of musical royalty instead.
posted by New Frontier at 2:20 PM on April 21, 2016 [13 favorites]
He was married to a woman from Toronto and resided there a decade ago.
I was going to suggest that the CN Tower be lit in purple tonight in honour of him.
By bizarre coincidence, the Tower will be lit in purple and gold this evening - in honour of Queen Elizabeth's 90th Birthday.
But I'll gaze at it this evening and think of musical royalty instead.
posted by New Frontier at 2:20 PM on April 21, 2016 [13 favorites]
My husband and I were just talking about Prince recently, about the thing with Weird Al. Then later when Chaka Khan singing "I Feel for You" came on, he asked if I knew who wrote it, and I guessed correctly. Prince is another guy I always thought would live forever.
posted by limeonaire at 2:21 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by limeonaire at 2:21 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
I can break down most of the music I listen to into stuff that was inspired by David Bowie or Prince or both.
Fuck you 2016.
Hey, cortex, can we get the FanFare style sheet in this thread pls thx.
posted by eyeballkid at 2:23 PM on April 21, 2016 [10 favorites]
Fuck you 2016.
Hey, cortex, can we get the FanFare style sheet in this thread pls thx.
posted by eyeballkid at 2:23 PM on April 21, 2016 [10 favorites]
In an ideal world, Prince and Chyna would have appeared together on some sort of TV special back in the '90s.
This is the darkest timeline.
♛
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 2:24 PM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
This is the darkest timeline.
♛
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 2:24 PM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
I feel like I learned to love music by listening to Prince.
.
posted by alanbee at 2:26 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
.
posted by alanbee at 2:26 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
.
posted by mikelieman at 2:26 PM on April 21, 2016
posted by mikelieman at 2:26 PM on April 21, 2016
Prince – 08/19/1988 – The Hague, Netherlands
Het Paard Van Troje, The Hague, Rotterdam
August 18th 1988
Disc one
1-1 Instrumental Jam 12:54
1-2 D.M.S.R. 8:47
1-3 Just My Imagination 7:45
1-4 People Without 10:28
1-5 Housequake 4:32
1-6 Down Home Blues 8:47
Disc two
2-1 Cold Sweat 9:35
2-2 Forever In My Life 11:28
2-3 Still Would Stand All Time 10:47
2-4 I'll Take You There 15:58
2-5 It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night 2:40
2-6 Rave To The Joy Fantastic 2:11
the band:
Bass: Levi Seacer Jr.
Drums, Percussion: Sheila E.
Guitar: Mico Weaver
Keyboards: Dr. Fink
Trumpet: Atlanta Bliss
Vocals: Boni Boyer, Cat*
Vocals, Guitar: Prince
posted by mikelieman at 2:28 PM on April 21, 2016 [9 favorites]
Het Paard Van Troje, The Hague, Rotterdam
August 18th 1988
Disc one
1-1 Instrumental Jam 12:54
1-2 D.M.S.R. 8:47
1-3 Just My Imagination 7:45
1-4 People Without 10:28
1-5 Housequake 4:32
1-6 Down Home Blues 8:47
Disc two
2-1 Cold Sweat 9:35
2-2 Forever In My Life 11:28
2-3 Still Would Stand All Time 10:47
2-4 I'll Take You There 15:58
2-5 It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night 2:40
2-6 Rave To The Joy Fantastic 2:11
the band:
Bass: Levi Seacer Jr.
Drums, Percussion: Sheila E.
Guitar: Mico Weaver
Keyboards: Dr. Fink
Trumpet: Atlanta Bliss
Vocals: Boni Boyer, Cat*
Vocals, Guitar: Prince
posted by mikelieman at 2:28 PM on April 21, 2016 [9 favorites]
The In Memoriam segment at next year's Grammys will just be the whole show.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 2:30 PM on April 21, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by ricochet biscuit at 2:30 PM on April 21, 2016 [9 favorites]
Don't forget that he wrote "Manic Monday"
posted by waitingtoderail at 2:33 PM on April 21, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by waitingtoderail at 2:33 PM on April 21, 2016 [11 favorites]
.
My (reshared) Prince experience--one of my favorite memories:
I interned at Warner Bros. Records in the summer of '94. Returning from lunch one day, I was a step away from the entrance when the double doors burst open (photo of said doors). Two absolutely massive gents in matching pinstripe suits filled the doorway, then stepped to the side like Royal Guardsmen. As they parted, I stood face-to-face with the Purple One, who glided through the lobby towards me at a rapid clip. He slipped past me, followed by his entourage--a parade of lace and glitter and hair. So far, nothing out of the ordinary--what happened next defied physics: one by one, they stepped into a limo--Prince, the drummer, the keyboardist, what must've been his full horn section, manager, a pack of Sirens. How they fit in the space confounds me to this day.
And then the hulking bodyguards climbed in.
The door closed, the limo drove off, and there I was, just standing there holding my Big Gulp.
posted by prinado at 2:35 PM on April 21, 2016 [31 favorites]
My (reshared) Prince experience--one of my favorite memories:
I interned at Warner Bros. Records in the summer of '94. Returning from lunch one day, I was a step away from the entrance when the double doors burst open (photo of said doors). Two absolutely massive gents in matching pinstripe suits filled the doorway, then stepped to the side like Royal Guardsmen. As they parted, I stood face-to-face with the Purple One, who glided through the lobby towards me at a rapid clip. He slipped past me, followed by his entourage--a parade of lace and glitter and hair. So far, nothing out of the ordinary--what happened next defied physics: one by one, they stepped into a limo--Prince, the drummer, the keyboardist, what must've been his full horn section, manager, a pack of Sirens. How they fit in the space confounds me to this day.
And then the hulking bodyguards climbed in.
The door closed, the limo drove off, and there I was, just standing there holding my Big Gulp.
posted by prinado at 2:35 PM on April 21, 2016 [31 favorites]
Ƭ̵̬̊
posted by gusandrews at 2:37 PM on April 21, 2016
posted by gusandrews at 2:37 PM on April 21, 2016
“Eyes on Prince's Twitter avatar close following news of his death,” Jordan Bassett, NME, 21 April 2016
posted by ob1quixote at 2:38 PM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by ob1quixote at 2:38 PM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
Prince – 08/19/1988 – The Hague, Netherlands
The cover of "Just My Imagination" on this recording is maybe my favorite thing ever.
posted by neroli at 2:42 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
The cover of "Just My Imagination" on this recording is maybe my favorite thing ever.
posted by neroli at 2:42 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
When my teacher found out Prince died (now there's an interview with him)
I'm very grateful for Twitter, MeFi, Facebook, text messages tonight. And Mary Lucia's sterling work on The Current.
.
posted by Gin and Broadband at 2:43 PM on April 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
I'm very grateful for Twitter, MeFi, Facebook, text messages tonight. And Mary Lucia's sterling work on The Current.
.
posted by Gin and Broadband at 2:43 PM on April 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
Oof. My son shared a planet with Prince for just over a week. I've never actually been much of a Prince fan; he was one of those guys where every time I'd hear a song of his I'd think, "God, why don't I listen to more Prince?" But even though I am not a connoisseur of his catalog, I always hoped I'd get a chance to see him live because I knew it would be worth it.
My little boy is going to be listening to a lot of Prince and Bowie over the next few months. I think this is what maternity leave was made for.
posted by town of cats at 2:49 PM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
My little boy is going to be listening to a lot of Prince and Bowie over the next few months. I think this is what maternity leave was made for.
posted by town of cats at 2:49 PM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
My wife is nine months pregnant (1 day past the due date), and maybe this is a selfish reaction, but one of the first thoughts we both had is how sad we are that our child will be born into a world without Prince. Especially for my self-described "Black weirdo" wife, there's just a tremendous sense of loss.
.‽
Name the child Prince!!!
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 2:50 PM on April 21, 2016 [10 favorites]
.‽
Name the child Prince!!!
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 2:50 PM on April 21, 2016 [10 favorites]
When I turned 11, I got a copy of the Symbol album (the one with My Name is Prince and Sexy MF and 7 on it) for my birthday, on tape. I guess because somebody knew how much I loved Batdance, but didn't know what Prince was actually about ...
I knew I had to hide it from my parents, who would make me throw it out if they heard it. So I just kept it inside my Walkman, swapping it out whenever I wanted to listen to anything else. I used to jam out to My Name is Prince while mowing the lawn.
I didn't get into Bowie until I was in college, but I got into Prince when I was a fucking child. Everything I knew about what it meant to be cool, about why it was important to be what you wanted to be and not care what other people think, about letting art breathe through you, I learned from Prince. I learned more about what sex and sexiness is from Prince than anybody else — not the mechanics of it, but sex as a human domain. And his fucking guitar. God damn it.
I'll just miss him. Thanks for everything, Prince.
posted by penduluum at 2:56 PM on April 21, 2016 [12 favorites]
I knew I had to hide it from my parents, who would make me throw it out if they heard it. So I just kept it inside my Walkman, swapping it out whenever I wanted to listen to anything else. I used to jam out to My Name is Prince while mowing the lawn.
I didn't get into Bowie until I was in college, but I got into Prince when I was a fucking child. Everything I knew about what it meant to be cool, about why it was important to be what you wanted to be and not care what other people think, about letting art breathe through you, I learned from Prince. I learned more about what sex and sexiness is from Prince than anybody else — not the mechanics of it, but sex as a human domain. And his fucking guitar. God damn it.
I'll just miss him. Thanks for everything, Prince.
posted by penduluum at 2:56 PM on April 21, 2016 [12 favorites]
Jesus Fucking Christ. I really really did not see that coming. DAMN DAMN DAMN
posted by GospelofWesleyWillis at 2:57 PM on April 21, 2016
posted by GospelofWesleyWillis at 2:57 PM on April 21, 2016
He attends meetings at a local Kingdom Hall, and, like his fellow-witnesses, he leaves his gated community from time to time to knock on doors and proselytize.
How would you react if Prince showed up at your door with a Watchtower magazine?
posted by clawsoon at 2:59 PM on April 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
How would you react if Prince showed up at your door with a Watchtower magazine?
posted by clawsoon at 2:59 PM on April 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
Also want to say that coming from Minneapolis, he was our pride and joy. My brother played softball with his brother at Central High and apparently Prince was "real weird and his nickname was Skipper". My sister in Mpls says she gets so tired of hearing about him and I'm like WUT? His Name Is PRINCE and He is Funky!
God damn you 2016 what are you doing picking us off one by one?
posted by GospelofWesleyWillis at 3:00 PM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
God damn you 2016 what are you doing picking us off one by one?
posted by GospelofWesleyWillis at 3:00 PM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
How would you react if Prince showed up at your door with a Watchtower magazine?
I used to live in an area with a lot of Jehovah's Witnesses, and I admit that I always had a bit of a soft spot for them because a tiny part of my was convinced that someday it would be Prince at my door.
posted by TwoStride at 3:03 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
I used to live in an area with a lot of Jehovah's Witnesses, and I admit that I always had a bit of a soft spot for them because a tiny part of my was convinced that someday it would be Prince at my door.
posted by TwoStride at 3:03 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
How would you react if Prince showed up at your door with a Watchtower magazine?
"I'm not seeing the part in here where the young are so educated they never grow old. Do those of us over 40 get grandfathered in on that, or... You know what, have a seat."
posted by middleclasstool at 3:04 PM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
"I'm not seeing the part in here where the young are so educated they never grow old. Do those of us over 40 get grandfathered in on that, or... You know what, have a seat."
posted by middleclasstool at 3:04 PM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
How would you react if Prince showed up at your door with a Watchtower magazine?
One of my favorite rockstar fantasies- the doorbell rings and someone says "DON'T answer it! Jehovah's Witnesses!" then I go "YEAH BUT IT'S PRINCE!!"
I soooo wanted to get witnessed by the Purple One.
posted by GospelofWesleyWillis at 3:05 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
One of my favorite rockstar fantasies- the doorbell rings and someone says "DON'T answer it! Jehovah's Witnesses!" then I go "YEAH BUT IT'S PRINCE!!"
I soooo wanted to get witnessed by the Purple One.
posted by GospelofWesleyWillis at 3:05 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Purple Rain was one of those albums I revisited every year or two through my adolescence and young adulthood. I remember my high school friends and I cued it up to make sure When Doves Cry was playing as midnight rolled over from 1991 to 1992 and we got ready for our last year of high school. It's an indelible memory, just bc of the music that was playing at the time.
posted by gaspode at 3:06 PM on April 21, 2016
posted by gaspode at 3:06 PM on April 21, 2016
I hope we'll see an avalanche of Prince bootleg material flooding the internet now that he is gone. His lawyers fiercely protected his work during his lifetime, but I hope now they'll just let us have at it.
posted by Dragonness at 3:10 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Dragonness at 3:10 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Prince Gave Black Kids Permission to be Weirdos.
posted by TwoStride at 3:11 PM on April 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by TwoStride at 3:11 PM on April 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
I would have bought a Watchtower from the man.
Found a 20+ live / soundboard recordings here. mikelieman linked to one performance above, but there's a lot more. Including the last live performance from April 16.
My personal favorite Prince memory is from 1984 when my friends and I got a hold of a Purple Rain tape. Took more effort than it should have. We were preteens, all our families were very conservative Christian who monitored our music, and we didn't have much spending money. But we got the tape. Have a sleepover to listen to the whole thing.
Thanks to my mum's work with the blind, I had a tape player designed for the audiobooks of the day. A player which was sorta multitrack. Putting the player on tracks 3-4 would play a normal tape backwards. So we used it on the ending of Darling Nikki. Heard the brief gospel-ish song. And because of our deep religiosity which suffused every part of our lives, we spent weeks puzzling over it. Raw sexuality mixed with a hidden message which wouldn't have been the least bit out of place in our churches.
The idea that you could love fucking and still love God was completely alien but somehow liberating. May have played a small part in me leaving the church just a few years later.
posted by honestcoyote at 3:13 PM on April 21, 2016 [21 favorites]
Found a 20+ live / soundboard recordings here. mikelieman linked to one performance above, but there's a lot more. Including the last live performance from April 16.
My personal favorite Prince memory is from 1984 when my friends and I got a hold of a Purple Rain tape. Took more effort than it should have. We were preteens, all our families were very conservative Christian who monitored our music, and we didn't have much spending money. But we got the tape. Have a sleepover to listen to the whole thing.
Thanks to my mum's work with the blind, I had a tape player designed for the audiobooks of the day. A player which was sorta multitrack. Putting the player on tracks 3-4 would play a normal tape backwards. So we used it on the ending of Darling Nikki. Heard the brief gospel-ish song. And because of our deep religiosity which suffused every part of our lives, we spent weeks puzzling over it. Raw sexuality mixed with a hidden message which wouldn't have been the least bit out of place in our churches.
The idea that you could love fucking and still love God was completely alien but somehow liberating. May have played a small part in me leaving the church just a few years later.
posted by honestcoyote at 3:13 PM on April 21, 2016 [21 favorites]
This still doesn't feel real. Prince was such a big part of my childhood. I used to watch a tape of his music videos almost every day after school. My brother and I would stay up late debating whether it would be cooler to drive a Pink Cadillac (a la Springsteen) or a Little Red Corvette, a la Prince. I was usually team Corvette.
He was still so young. Damn.
posted by capricorn at 3:18 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
He was still so young. Damn.
posted by capricorn at 3:18 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Upon watching the Deadspin link to his Superbowl show and, in the corner, a Jezebel montage of images of Prince, it is clear that we have now also lost the epic Champion of the Side-Eye.
posted by TwoStride at 3:22 PM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by TwoStride at 3:22 PM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
forever in my life ... and ever
small club, maybe thirty years ago
posted by philip-random at 3:24 PM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
small club, maybe thirty years ago
posted by philip-random at 3:24 PM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
.
Also, among the many tributes, the current weather according to The Guardian's website.
posted by fight or flight at 3:36 PM on April 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
Also, among the many tributes, the current weather according to The Guardian's website.
posted by fight or flight at 3:36 PM on April 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
Tribute at the Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago
posted by readery at 3:37 PM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by readery at 3:37 PM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
First Avenue is hosting a no-cover, all night dance party tribute to Prince.
http://first-avenue.com/event/2016/04/042116
posted by nathan_teske at 3:38 PM on April 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
http://first-avenue.com/event/2016/04/042116
posted by nathan_teske at 3:38 PM on April 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
.
So glad I got to see him in concert. His band was filled with the best musicians I've ever seen. The feeling I always got from him was that he spent a lot of time and energy in creating the best performance he could. So many artists just show up and then blame the audience if they don't get a great response. Prince was giving people something for their trouble of buying a ticket and coming out and the thought and effort he put into it really showed.
posted by dawkins_7 at 3:42 PM on April 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
So glad I got to see him in concert. His band was filled with the best musicians I've ever seen. The feeling I always got from him was that he spent a lot of time and energy in creating the best performance he could. So many artists just show up and then blame the audience if they don't get a great response. Prince was giving people something for their trouble of buying a ticket and coming out and the thought and effort he put into it really showed.
posted by dawkins_7 at 3:42 PM on April 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
Fuck.
posted by humanfont at 3:44 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by humanfont at 3:44 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
I went to see him on the Musicology tour. In the second half, he just sat on a stool with a guitar and played some of his greatest hits. Halfway through he said something to the effect of "you know you grew up singing this one in a mirror holding a hairbrush."
F'n guy was spying on me all along.
posted by NedKoppel at 3:51 PM on April 21, 2016 [12 favorites]
F'n guy was spying on me all along.
posted by NedKoppel at 3:51 PM on April 21, 2016 [12 favorites]
Ebro Darden is basically playing all of Purple Rain on Beats 1.
I'd never considered myself a fan of Prince, as in, I didn't seek him out and follow his career actively. But jeeze, he was like the sky or the trees, you know? Just there and vital and important. It feels baffling to live in a world in which he's not still alive. I feel weirdly unmoored.
posted by yasaman at 3:52 PM on April 21, 2016 [9 favorites]
I'd never considered myself a fan of Prince, as in, I didn't seek him out and follow his career actively. But jeeze, he was like the sky or the trees, you know? Just there and vital and important. It feels baffling to live in a world in which he's not still alive. I feel weirdly unmoored.
posted by yasaman at 3:52 PM on April 21, 2016 [9 favorites]
Don't mean to be distasteful but hey, at least he wasn't a member of the genius 27 club. He doubled that and then some.
posted by raider at 3:53 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by raider at 3:53 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Between Bowie and Prince, 2016 will be known as The Year the Glitter Died.
I'm still not over bowie.
posted by WhitenoisE at 3:59 PM on April 21, 2016 [13 favorites]
I'm still not over bowie.
posted by WhitenoisE at 3:59 PM on April 21, 2016 [13 favorites]
I am reading that responders first found an unresponsive Prince on an elevator.
AN ELEVATOR.
posted by NedKoppel at 4:08 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
AN ELEVATOR.
posted by NedKoppel at 4:08 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
An early (1986) interview of Prince with Detroit radio icon the Electrifying Mojo. "I worked a long time under a lot of different people, and most of the time I was doing it their way, and that was cool and all, you know, but I figured if I worked hard enough and kept my head straight, one day I'd get to do it on my own, and that's what happened. So...I feel I don't try to hurt nobody and, like I say, keep my head on straight. My way is usually the best way."
posted by praemunire at 4:09 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by praemunire at 4:09 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
.
My best friend introduced me to Controversy.
Wow.
...
I don't remember ever seeing Google do a Google Doodle on the day of someone's passing before. I actually find it pretty lovely.
[gently weeping]
posted by kristi at 4:12 PM on April 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
My best friend introduced me to Controversy.
Wow.
...
I don't remember ever seeing Google do a Google Doodle on the day of someone's passing before. I actually find it pretty lovely.
[gently weeping]
posted by kristi at 4:12 PM on April 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
The one and only time I saw Prince live was during the 2004 tour in Philadelphia. Morris Day & The Time opened, and that was fun from a nostalgia POV, but the real magic happened when Prince himself took the stage. He was electrifying, the most consummate and yet generous performer I've ever seen.
Throughout the concert, he'd pulled up various audience members onstage to sing and dance with him whenever he played one of his (many) huge hits. And then he pulled this one older Black lady on stage with him, and she starts BELTING the song, and within two notes I realize: it's Patti fucking LaBelle. The two of them were like old friends on stage, each reading the other's cues like a psychic connection. It was astounding and humbling, to see a performance of that caliber.
My heart is broken.
posted by shiu mai baby at 4:13 PM on April 21, 2016 [19 favorites]
Throughout the concert, he'd pulled up various audience members onstage to sing and dance with him whenever he played one of his (many) huge hits. And then he pulled this one older Black lady on stage with him, and she starts BELTING the song, and within two notes I realize: it's Patti fucking LaBelle. The two of them were like old friends on stage, each reading the other's cues like a psychic connection. It was astounding and humbling, to see a performance of that caliber.
My heart is broken.
posted by shiu mai baby at 4:13 PM on April 21, 2016 [19 favorites]
Prince was a serious musician in a sea of hair products, cocaine, and dancers on the radio. He could, and did, do it all. He was a cat. I disagree with him about some things (religion, fashion) and agree with others, but strictly musically speaking - that was a hell of a run.
Others can sound like Hendrix (hat tip, R. Trower) but Prince could think like he did. The spaces and the places. Amazing. And (and?) And he can bring the funk almost as hard as Mr. Brown at his peak. At his peak! He can move! And- (and!?!) AND he had his own whole thing. Which is prodigious. It's super badass. It's true! It's all true. OMG. Damn.
Here's what I wanted to share - a 2004 Guitar Player interview, just after Musicology came out. Learn from the best:
When the Jackson Five came up, they had to go through Smokey Robinson and the Funk Brothers, and that’s how they got it down. I want to be able to teach that stuff, because kids need to learn these things, and nobody is teaching them the basics. See, a lot of cats don't work on their rhythm enough, and if you don't have rhythm, you might as well take up needlepoint or something. I can't stress it enough. The next thing is pitch. That's universal-you're either in tune or you ain't [laughs]. When you get these things down, then you can learn how to solo."
In tune and in time. Yes he was.
.
posted by petebest at 4:20 PM on April 21, 2016 [22 favorites]
Others can sound like Hendrix (hat tip, R. Trower) but Prince could think like he did. The spaces and the places. Amazing. And (and?) And he can bring the funk almost as hard as Mr. Brown at his peak. At his peak! He can move! And- (and!?!) AND he had his own whole thing. Which is prodigious. It's super badass. It's true! It's all true. OMG. Damn.
Here's what I wanted to share - a 2004 Guitar Player interview, just after Musicology came out. Learn from the best:
When the Jackson Five came up, they had to go through Smokey Robinson and the Funk Brothers, and that’s how they got it down. I want to be able to teach that stuff, because kids need to learn these things, and nobody is teaching them the basics. See, a lot of cats don't work on their rhythm enough, and if you don't have rhythm, you might as well take up needlepoint or something. I can't stress it enough. The next thing is pitch. That's universal-you're either in tune or you ain't [laughs]. When you get these things down, then you can learn how to solo."
In tune and in time. Yes he was.
.
posted by petebest at 4:20 PM on April 21, 2016 [22 favorites]
Quick. Go to google.com
posted by NedKoppel at 4:23 PM on April 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by NedKoppel at 4:23 PM on April 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
Well, here is my Prince story. I am in Chelsea Westminster hospital in a surgical theater getting ready to bring child number two, into the world; all thirteen supposed pounds of her. I got my epidural, my surgical team is sorted out and my best friend, Tamu, is with me as my personal medical person (Emergency, NICU nurse) to this surgery. Just as we are getting ready, the surgeon says, "Well what CD would you like?" Errr... I get a soundtrack to my surgery? My friend and I are puzzled and caught off guard by the question and are handed a CD booklet FILLED with CDs. It seems that someone had died and willed their entire Columbia Music Club CDs to the hospital. Tamu and are flipping through the selections and vetoing albums, left and right such as, Best of Lynard Skynard and Journey. We are taking a chunk of time and the surgical staff is staring at us. So, in honor of Minnesota we settle on Prince but she and are debating CD 1 or 2 and whether the length of surgery leads to what songs. I do not want the kid busting out to Darling Nikki or Erotic City. Damn it, I chose her full name based on Tamu's recommendation of, "Well, its not a pole name." (naming children is really difficult and more convulated than negotiations at Bretton Woods.) Surgery starts with Prince blaring out with "Let's Go Crazy" and my 7 half pound baby, Olivia was ripped out of my body in a timely manner with the CD ending, I think to "Diamonds and Pearls." I could be wrong, but it seems right. Thank you Prince, you soundtracked an amazing experience.
posted by jadepearl at 4:24 PM on April 21, 2016 [49 favorites]
posted by jadepearl at 4:24 PM on April 21, 2016 [49 favorites]
The idea that you could love fucking and still love God
One of the many things I loved about Prince - his insistence that it's not about "still," more like "because." That sexuality is a holy gift and a sacred expression of love (love of all kinds). with my body I thee worship (see also: Aretha Franklin)
I held out on crying till I got home, put my Purple Rain on the turntable, and got to the "woo oooo ooooo ooooo"s at the very end. Damn.
posted by sallybrown at 4:28 PM on April 21, 2016 [21 favorites]
One of the many things I loved about Prince - his insistence that it's not about "still," more like "because." That sexuality is a holy gift and a sacred expression of love (love of all kinds). with my body I thee worship (see also: Aretha Franklin)
I held out on crying till I got home, put my Purple Rain on the turntable, and got to the "woo oooo ooooo ooooo"s at the very end. Damn.
posted by sallybrown at 4:28 PM on April 21, 2016 [21 favorites]
The only Prince story I have is actually about my cousin (I grew up in his mother's home as she was my legal guardian). He snuck out through his bedroom window the night that the Controversy tour came to Milwaukee. My aunt figured it out, and waited for him to return by the window, holding a super-long extension cord that she'd folded into almost a cat-o'-nine-tails sort of configuration. I thought she was nuts. She sat at that window for 3 hours.
When he snuck back in 12-ish, she started whooping him, and got some real stingers in there. However, for the first time ever in our childhoods, he hit her back. She still kept at it, but he pushed her away and said something like, "I'm done listening to you about your 'satanic music', religious bullshit. Now get out of my room!"
While hitting is, of course, wrong, I think it speaks volumes that my cousin chose to fight on that hill. He was just a huge Prince fan; and Fundamentalist Pentecostals be damned, he was going to that show at the Milwaukee Arena come hell, high water, or extension cords being lashed across his back.
I asked him the next day if the show was worth all the crap he got for it. And he said, "You damn right, it was worth it!"
I saw Prince myself, finally, in 2012 at Madison Square Garden, and I couldn't agree with him more. It's probably the only thing we'd agree on in our lives.
.
posted by droplet at 4:41 PM on April 21, 2016 [40 favorites]
When he snuck back in 12-ish, she started whooping him, and got some real stingers in there. However, for the first time ever in our childhoods, he hit her back. She still kept at it, but he pushed her away and said something like, "I'm done listening to you about your 'satanic music', religious bullshit. Now get out of my room!"
While hitting is, of course, wrong, I think it speaks volumes that my cousin chose to fight on that hill. He was just a huge Prince fan; and Fundamentalist Pentecostals be damned, he was going to that show at the Milwaukee Arena come hell, high water, or extension cords being lashed across his back.
I asked him the next day if the show was worth all the crap he got for it. And he said, "You damn right, it was worth it!"
I saw Prince myself, finally, in 2012 at Madison Square Garden, and I couldn't agree with him more. It's probably the only thing we'd agree on in our lives.
.
posted by droplet at 4:41 PM on April 21, 2016 [40 favorites]
God, I hate this
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 4:41 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 4:41 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
...
posted by bird internet at 4:42 PM on April 21, 2016
posted by bird internet at 4:42 PM on April 21, 2016
I held it together till i saw Vin Jones bawling like a baby
posted by ramix at 4:50 PM on April 21, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by ramix at 4:50 PM on April 21, 2016 [11 favorites]
....
Does anyone else remember the poster of prince in the shower from 83 maybe? I think it came with Controversy on vinyl.
I am so sad.
posted by mgrrl at 4:53 PM on April 21, 2016
Does anyone else remember the poster of prince in the shower from 83 maybe? I think it came with Controversy on vinyl.
I am so sad.
posted by mgrrl at 4:53 PM on April 21, 2016
It is right now both raining and sunny in Chanhassen. It's very pretty. I'll be heading up to Paisley after dinner. Apparently there have been quite a few visitors there already.
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 4:55 PM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 4:55 PM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
I've mentioned it here before, but if you haven't already heard it (and you may not have because it was buried at the end of Under The Cherry Moon), please go buy "Sometimes It Snows in April", which is a gorgeous and heartbreaking song. I was just thinking of it not two weeks ago as I was driving to a funeral in the midst of a freak April blizzard in Minneapolis. It seemed so appropriate then and it also does now.
Tracy died soon after a long fought civil war,
Just after I'd wiped away his last tear
I guess he's better off than he was before,
A whole lot better off than the fools he left here
I used to cry for Tracy because he was my only friend
Those kind of cars don't pass you every day
I used to cry for Tracy because I wanted to see him again,
But sometimes sometimes life ain't always the way
Sometimes it snows in April
Sometimes I feel so bad, so bad
Sometimes I wish life was never ending,
And all good things, they say, never last
Springtime was always my favorite time of year,
A time for lovers holding hands in the rain
Now springtime only reminds me of Tracy's tears
Always cry for love, never cry for pain
He used to say so strong unafraid to die
Unafraid of the death that left me hypnotized
No, staring at his picture I realized
No one could cry the way my Tracy cried
Sometimes it snows in April
Sometimes I feel so bad
Sometimes, sometimes I wish that life was never ending,
And all good things, they say, never last
I often dream of heaven and I know that Tracy's there
I know that he has found another friend
Maybe he's found the answer to all the April snow
Maybe one day I'll see my Tracy again
Sometimes it snows in April
Sometimes I feel so bad, so bad
Sometimes I wish that life was never ending,
But all good things, they say, never last
All good things that say, never last
And love, it isn't love until it's past.
posted by triggerfinger at 4:56 PM on April 21, 2016 [18 favorites]
Tracy died soon after a long fought civil war,
Just after I'd wiped away his last tear
I guess he's better off than he was before,
A whole lot better off than the fools he left here
I used to cry for Tracy because he was my only friend
Those kind of cars don't pass you every day
I used to cry for Tracy because I wanted to see him again,
But sometimes sometimes life ain't always the way
Sometimes it snows in April
Sometimes I feel so bad, so bad
Sometimes I wish life was never ending,
And all good things, they say, never last
Springtime was always my favorite time of year,
A time for lovers holding hands in the rain
Now springtime only reminds me of Tracy's tears
Always cry for love, never cry for pain
He used to say so strong unafraid to die
Unafraid of the death that left me hypnotized
No, staring at his picture I realized
No one could cry the way my Tracy cried
Sometimes it snows in April
Sometimes I feel so bad
Sometimes, sometimes I wish that life was never ending,
And all good things, they say, never last
I often dream of heaven and I know that Tracy's there
I know that he has found another friend
Maybe he's found the answer to all the April snow
Maybe one day I'll see my Tracy again
Sometimes it snows in April
Sometimes I feel so bad, so bad
Sometimes I wish that life was never ending,
But all good things, they say, never last
All good things that say, never last
And love, it isn't love until it's past.
posted by triggerfinger at 4:56 PM on April 21, 2016 [18 favorites]
Once upon a time in a haystack of despair - extended jam version of a track I feel doesn't get enough love, "Mountains."
But I say it's only mountains and the sea
Love will conquer if you just believe
posted by dnash at 5:00 PM on April 21, 2016 [11 favorites]
But I say it's only mountains and the sea
Love will conquer if you just believe
posted by dnash at 5:00 PM on April 21, 2016 [11 favorites]
It is right now both raining and sunny in Chanhassen. It's very pretty. I'll be heading up to Paisley after dinner. Apparently there have been quite a few visitors there already.
My mom was there earlier today, just hanging out with and hugging strangers. She loved Prince too.
posted by triggerfinger at 5:00 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
My mom was there earlier today, just hanging out with and hugging strangers. She loved Prince too.
posted by triggerfinger at 5:00 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
Questlove, you may have heard, tells the best stories. Prince, in our experience, IS the best stories.
posted by clawsoon at 5:07 PM on April 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by clawsoon at 5:07 PM on April 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
There was also a period of time when if it wasn't Prince behind the mic, it was likely Prince behind the lyrics.
posted by CBrachyrhynchos at 5:07 PM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by CBrachyrhynchos at 5:07 PM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
extended jam version of a track I feel doesn't get enough love, "Mountains."
way back when, whilst the air just seemed more lysergic, I was known to argue that this is where Prince achieved the summit of his vision and abilities.
posted by philip-random at 5:10 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
way back when, whilst the air just seemed more lysergic, I was known to argue that this is where Prince achieved the summit of his vision and abilities.
posted by philip-random at 5:10 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
The 6 CDs Prince bought on his last trip to the Electric Fetus [local record store and subject of his last tweet]
posted by triggerfinger at 5:10 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by triggerfinger at 5:10 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
I don't think he liked that sketch too much
posted by clorox at 5:14 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by clorox at 5:14 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
This just showed up on my Facebook, posted by a friend-of-a-friend who was a pretty big deal in the music biz back in the day ...
> > >
When I lived in Toronto, so did Prince. One day at the water cooler at work, several people were discussing Prince showing up late to a dingy blues club and asking to sit in with the band. He played for 2 hours. After that, it was a regular occurrence at local clubs, and at work I would be able to finish the sentences of my coworkers by saying, " and then he joined the bar band to jam for a couple of hours." That is a real musician with a love of music for music's sake. Few people are really geniuses. He was one. What a sad shock. As far as I could tell, he lived a very healthy lifestyle.
In the Dave Chappelle show, there was a piece told by Charlie Murphy, brother of Eddie, about a basketball game in the wee hours between Rick James' entourage and Prince's entourage that is pretty dam funny. I want to believe it was mostly true. Apparently, frilly shirt and all, Prince was also a really good basketball player. Who knew?
Only met him once, very briefly at WB in LA in the Eighties. He wore his hoody up and carried a single flower. He was about to release Raspberry Beret and I heard the prerelease of that song. Magic! His problems with WB were in regard to his release schedule, as he wanted to release 2 albums a year and they simply refused because they couldn't fully capitalize on maximizing revenue with that much "product". That's when he fought back, changed his name (not really) to the symbol, so as not to help WB promote his records as a matter of principle. It wasn't an act of eccentricity as the media keeps saying. He considered his contract and release schedule a form of artistic slavery. When his contract with WB ended, he resumed using his name. Point made, if not taken.
A friend in the biz had been burned for $50,000 by Prince's former manager. Years later, when Prince approached him to help him with returning to the live music circuit, my friend told Prince of the incident. A couple of days later a cheque for $50,000 showed up to my friend's office. No questions asked. So much respect for Prince as a person and as an artist. He had a rare combination of gifts. Respect!
One more thing, in the early eighties I was driving and listening to a crappy pop station when a different kind of song came on. It was so weird in the mix of sound a like pablum. I actually pulled the car over to listen closely. No bass guitar? It was mostly beat and melody, with a vocal that was a kind of neutral gender. When Doves Cry. I was an instant fan. It's hard to remember the landscape prior to hearing that song. Prince changed everything in pop. My last real memory of seeing Prince perform was him nailing Purple Rain at the Super Bowl halftime show....in the pouring rain. That guy could sing and play as well as anyone ever has
posted by philip-random at 5:15 PM on April 21, 2016 [36 favorites]
> > >
When I lived in Toronto, so did Prince. One day at the water cooler at work, several people were discussing Prince showing up late to a dingy blues club and asking to sit in with the band. He played for 2 hours. After that, it was a regular occurrence at local clubs, and at work I would be able to finish the sentences of my coworkers by saying, " and then he joined the bar band to jam for a couple of hours." That is a real musician with a love of music for music's sake. Few people are really geniuses. He was one. What a sad shock. As far as I could tell, he lived a very healthy lifestyle.
In the Dave Chappelle show, there was a piece told by Charlie Murphy, brother of Eddie, about a basketball game in the wee hours between Rick James' entourage and Prince's entourage that is pretty dam funny. I want to believe it was mostly true. Apparently, frilly shirt and all, Prince was also a really good basketball player. Who knew?
Only met him once, very briefly at WB in LA in the Eighties. He wore his hoody up and carried a single flower. He was about to release Raspberry Beret and I heard the prerelease of that song. Magic! His problems with WB were in regard to his release schedule, as he wanted to release 2 albums a year and they simply refused because they couldn't fully capitalize on maximizing revenue with that much "product". That's when he fought back, changed his name (not really) to the symbol, so as not to help WB promote his records as a matter of principle. It wasn't an act of eccentricity as the media keeps saying. He considered his contract and release schedule a form of artistic slavery. When his contract with WB ended, he resumed using his name. Point made, if not taken.
A friend in the biz had been burned for $50,000 by Prince's former manager. Years later, when Prince approached him to help him with returning to the live music circuit, my friend told Prince of the incident. A couple of days later a cheque for $50,000 showed up to my friend's office. No questions asked. So much respect for Prince as a person and as an artist. He had a rare combination of gifts. Respect!
One more thing, in the early eighties I was driving and listening to a crappy pop station when a different kind of song came on. It was so weird in the mix of sound a like pablum. I actually pulled the car over to listen closely. No bass guitar? It was mostly beat and melody, with a vocal that was a kind of neutral gender. When Doves Cry. I was an instant fan. It's hard to remember the landscape prior to hearing that song. Prince changed everything in pop. My last real memory of seeing Prince perform was him nailing Purple Rain at the Super Bowl halftime show....in the pouring rain. That guy could sing and play as well as anyone ever has
posted by philip-random at 5:15 PM on April 21, 2016 [36 favorites]
💜
posted by pandalicious at 5:22 PM on April 21, 2016
posted by pandalicious at 5:22 PM on April 21, 2016
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posted by dogstoevski at 5:22 PM on April 21, 2016
posted by dogstoevski at 5:22 PM on April 21, 2016
This one hurts. I think the music you love as a child, and through puberty, is imprinted on you. It's in your bones. Yes, this one hurts.
posted by soakimbo at 5:29 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by soakimbo at 5:29 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
"Looking into Prince’s eyes must be like looking at the world. Or, more specifically, the world of one black man loving another."
--Hilton Als, "I Am Your Conscious, I Am Love: A paean 2 Prince"
posted by informavore at 5:32 PM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
--Hilton Als, "I Am Your Conscious, I Am Love: A paean 2 Prince"
posted by informavore at 5:32 PM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
I wanted to highlight my very favorite Prince story I've ever read. A few years back in a thread about the first performance of “Purple Rain” vibrotronica posted his story of seeing Prince in concert in Memphis in June 2004.
posted by ob1quixote at 5:34 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by ob1quixote at 5:34 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
My only Prince story is glimpsing him once at a Janelle Monae show at First Ave, like a tiny purple yeti.
posted by dinty_moore at 5:35 PM on April 21, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by dinty_moore at 5:35 PM on April 21, 2016 [9 favorites]
Purple Rain (the movie) playing on MTV now.
posted by cooker girl at 5:48 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by cooker girl at 5:48 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Awww, I have a friend reporting from the Orioles game that Adam Jones (center fielder) is having a different Prince song played for each of his at-bats.
posted by TwoStride at 5:51 PM on April 21, 2016 [14 favorites]
posted by TwoStride at 5:51 PM on April 21, 2016 [14 favorites]
Brandon Phillips of the Reds is doing the same thing.
posted by cooker girl at 5:54 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by cooker girl at 5:54 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
I posted this back in this 2013 fpp:
In 1982 or 1983 I and a friend shared a table with Prince at the Whiskey a Go Go while watching the Untouchables perform. I remember him wearing a quilted purple suit. We didn't have time interact with him as his bodyguard, a big bearded guy that I later saw in the Purple Rain movie, picked him up (he is tiny) and lowered him over a railing to the dance floor. Not that he wanted to get away from us (I hope), but that he wanted to get to the dance floor and that was the easiest way to get there.posted by ShooBoo at 6:09 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
I'm just stunned. Been listening to my Prince records and CDs all night. I grew up and lived in the same town. I'm a couple of years older and I never had any direct interactions with him, but his places were my places, his city was my city.
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posted by mygoditsbob at 6:14 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
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posted by mygoditsbob at 6:14 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
Prince was so ahead of me in my own understanding of what it means to be black in this country, to have a sexuality and gender expression at odds with the white men who try to tell everyone else how to behave – and to embrace what is amorphous, not easily categorized, beautiful, and yet unknown.
Prince broke all the rules about what black American men should be
posted by triggerfinger at 6:20 PM on April 21, 2016 [13 favorites]
Prince broke all the rules about what black American men should be
posted by triggerfinger at 6:20 PM on April 21, 2016 [13 favorites]
.
I still remember hearing Sign O' the Times for the first time. It was such a shock.
posted by Kattullus at 6:21 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
I still remember hearing Sign O' the Times for the first time. It was such a shock.
posted by Kattullus at 6:21 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
.
Rest in peace, Prince. I hope you've found that world of neverending happiness, where you can always see the sun, day or night.
posted by SisterHavana at 6:23 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Rest in peace, Prince. I hope you've found that world of neverending happiness, where you can always see the sun, day or night.
posted by SisterHavana at 6:23 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Partyman, from one of the best movie soundtracks of all time.
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posted by fuse theorem at 6:25 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
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posted by fuse theorem at 6:25 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
My favorite non-musical Prince rumor is that he'd rent a Twin Cities bowling alley for him and his friends to bowl at. posted by drezdn
My friend saw him at Paisley Park back in November. After the show, he invited everyone to the local movie theater to watch the latest James Bond film. So, it's not surprising he would treat his friends (and maybe by friends this means fans?) to an evening of bowling.
posted by vespabelle at 6:26 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
My friend saw him at Paisley Park back in November. After the show, he invited everyone to the local movie theater to watch the latest James Bond film. So, it's not surprising he would treat his friends (and maybe by friends this means fans?) to an evening of bowling.
posted by vespabelle at 6:26 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Via Alfred Soto, every bit of this is the best:
Stevie Nicks: When we were recording "Stand Back" I decided to be really blatant and call Prince up and tell him that I had been inspired to write the song while listening to "Little Red Corvette." I told him that I figured my song was half his. He came over to the studio where I was recording and listened to it--as I turned extremely white and started to shake. Then he walked over to the piano and put on a really incredible keyboard track. And not only did Prince make it up right on the spot, he played it with only two fingers. Then he left.posted by naju at 6:27 PM on April 21, 2016 [67 favorites]
Details: Did you see him again?
Stevie Nicks: Yes, when I was on the road a year or so later. I was sick, and Prince brought some cough syrup up to my hotel room. He was sweet--he walked around the room folding things, fluffing pillows, tidying up in general. Then he gave me a spoon of it himself. But when I asked for another spoonful he changed--he said, "I didn't come all the way up here just to get you hooked on another substance!" Then he left.
Weather Underground has changed all their rain icons to purple rain. Go check your forecast.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 6:37 PM on April 21, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 6:37 PM on April 21, 2016 [10 favorites]
On the way home today, the first song I put on shuffle was the extended version of "Let's Go Crazy,"
which gave me a huge burst of pure freedom and joy that goes all the war down to my spine, that I only also get from "Thunder Road," by the Boss. He may be the best analog, if you'll allow me to stetch an idea or feeling or something.
posted by jonmc at 6:45 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
which gave me a huge burst of pure freedom and joy that goes all the war down to my spine, that I only also get from "Thunder Road," by the Boss. He may be the best analog, if you'll allow me to stetch an idea or feeling or something.
posted by jonmc at 6:45 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Thanks uberchet, I was looking for that article.
Here's the video again. Enjoy it until it gets taken down.
posted by howling fantods at 6:45 PM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
Here's the video again. Enjoy it until it gets taken down.
posted by howling fantods at 6:45 PM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
"All men have stars, but they are not the same things for different people. For some, who are travelers, the stars are guides. For others they are no more than little lights in the sky. For others, who are scholars, they are problems... But all these stars are silent. You--You alone will have stars as no one else has them... In one of the stars I shall be living. In one of them I shall be laughing. And so it will be as if all the stars will be laughing when you look at the sky at night..You, only you, will have stars that can laugh! And when your sorrow is comforted (time soothes all sorrows) you will be content that you have known me... You will always be my friend. You will want to laugh with me. And you will sometimes open your window, so, for that pleasure... It will be as if, in place of the stars, I had given you a great number of little bells that knew how to laugh”
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
posted by magstheaxe at 6:52 PM on April 21, 2016 [16 favorites]
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
posted by magstheaxe at 6:52 PM on April 21, 2016 [16 favorites]
.
posted by adrienneleigh at 6:57 PM on April 21, 2016
posted by adrienneleigh at 6:57 PM on April 21, 2016
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posted by Soulfather at 7:01 PM on April 21, 2016
posted by Soulfather at 7:01 PM on April 21, 2016
Amazing to get in the car, turn on the radio and hear songs I actually love.
posted by Dragonness at 7:06 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Dragonness at 7:06 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
.
posted by JoeXIII007 at 7:07 PM on April 21, 2016
posted by JoeXIII007 at 7:07 PM on April 21, 2016
I'm one of those people who didn't get Prince until that Super Bowl halftime show (I was too young to have appreciated him during the 80s, being born in 1984 myself; Purple Rain was more familiar to me from trivia about the year of my birth than from actually being aware of the album or film). But from then on, he was one of my favorites. I got to see him at Madison Square Garden in 2011. It was one of the most phenomenal shows I have ever seen, and the response he got out of an audience was just insane. I had hoped I'd get to see him live again...
posted by ocherdraco at 7:09 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by ocherdraco at 7:09 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
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posted by ecourbanist at 7:10 PM on April 21, 2016
posted by ecourbanist at 7:10 PM on April 21, 2016
Hey, cortex, can we get the FanFare style sheet in this thread pls thx.
Altering colors across all the stylesheets is kind of a pain, so I hope this will suffice:
posted by cortex at 7:12 PM on April 21, 2016 [133 favorites]
Altering colors across all the stylesheets is kind of a pain, so I hope this will suffice:
posted by cortex at 7:12 PM on April 21, 2016 [133 favorites]
Michael Jackson, James Brown, and Prince (1983)
posted by ocherdraco at 7:16 PM on April 21, 2016 [15 favorites]
posted by ocherdraco at 7:16 PM on April 21, 2016 [15 favorites]
Cream was probably the first Prince song I remember, as a tween. IT MADE ME BLUSH A LOT.
posted by zutalors! at 7:29 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by zutalors! at 7:29 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
I was on my way home and I heard a funky beat coming from the car in front of me. Lo, it was "Erotic City".
Just saw that the Los Angeles City Hall will be lit up purple tonight in his memory. Thank you Mayor Garcetti!
posted by mogget at 7:30 PM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
Just saw that the Los Angeles City Hall will be lit up purple tonight in his memory. Thank you Mayor Garcetti!
posted by mogget at 7:30 PM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
Just remembered Jemaine from the Conchords asking for casual Prince look
posted by palindromic at 7:32 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by palindromic at 7:32 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
ocherdraco: Michael Jackson, James Brown, and Prince (1983) yt
Fuck me. Thank you for making me see this.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:43 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
Fuck me. Thank you for making me see this.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:43 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
MSPMag: Nowhere But Here: Thirty years ago, Purple Rain made Prince a superstar. Here's how a not-so-funky city in the Midwest gave rise to the iconoclastic trickster who changed the course of music history.
That was part of the thrill of Prince, that he was protean, indecipherable. His deliberately multiracial, mixed-gender bands recalled Sly & the Family Stone and the collectivism of the ’60s, while his studio methods recalled ’70s insularity. He was an old-fashioned instrumentalist who made some of his coolest sounds by feeding a Linn drum machine into effects pedals. He was antiestablishment (see “Uptown”)—no, a conservative (see the downright McCarthyesque “America”). His grandest gestures could seem shallow, his modest ones bottomless.posted by Eyebrows McGee at 7:59 PM on April 21, 2016 [12 favorites]
Some of this had to do with geography. In the early years of Prince’s career, one could reasonably call Minneapolis a progressive place, a city with a robust gay and lesbian community, a lively arts scene, and a reputation as a friendly spot for interracial couples. It was also a reserved mid-sized city lacking ethnic diversity, and its “Mini-Apple” rhetoric typified a rather embarrassing blend of ambition and insecurity. Like his hometown, Prince was kind of sophisticated, kind of provincial, and his music seemed fittingly removed from the usual hot spots: It reflected (as well as set) the trends of the day, but only after distorting them to great effect from a distance, like a brilliant finish to a game of telephone.
On MSNBC, Brian Williams has been pushing their Prince memorial hard, and with rather a depth of knowledge. It really feels like he's covering it as a fan.
posted by Guy Smiley at 8:02 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Guy Smiley at 8:02 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Tweets from First Avenue, where they're having a huge street dance to celebrate his life.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:04 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:04 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Hamilton cast tribute to Prince
The Color Purple cast tribute to Prince
posted by gladly at 8:06 PM on April 21, 2016 [37 favorites]
The Color Purple cast tribute to Prince
posted by gladly at 8:06 PM on April 21, 2016 [37 favorites]
Minnesota Senator Al Franken praises Prince in the US Senate.
posted by Guy Smiley at 8:13 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Guy Smiley at 8:13 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar does too.
posted by Guy Smiley at 8:16 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Guy Smiley at 8:16 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
a not-so-funky city in the Midwest
Eh? Minneapolis is literally Funkytown, ffs.
posted by Sys Rq at 8:17 PM on April 21, 2016 [18 favorites]
Eh? Minneapolis is literally Funkytown, ffs.
posted by Sys Rq at 8:17 PM on April 21, 2016 [18 favorites]
Goddamn that cast tribute from The Color Purple. Just wow.
posted by ocherdraco at 8:37 PM on April 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by ocherdraco at 8:37 PM on April 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
It's times like these when I'm so glad for Metafilter. Like many others who have shared stories in this thread, I was a Midwestern kid, a closeted queer, raised in a Christian Fundamentalist (Penecostal Holiness, to be exact) family and my first experience with Prince literally broke my mind open.
It was my first "non-church" friends sleep-over. I was 12. And my host, Jennifer, a dear friend to this day, decided we should watch a movie and put on Purple Rain. At first, I resisted: my old friend can still tell you about the 10 minute lecture (sermon) I gave about how watching a rock-n-roll movie would send us all to hell. In my effort to save their souls, I kept looking at the screen and finally, I just couldn't look away anymore. When the movie was over, the other party-goers went off to other things. I rewound Purple Rain and watched it again. Alone. And thus a weird, queer, brown Midwestern girl found a hero.
Tonight the local oldies station played "Mountains" followed by "Sometimes It Snows in April" and I've never cried so hard for someone that I've never met.
There aren't words for my gratitude to Prince. There aren't words for my despair at his early passing. I can only say to him: may your ancestors greet you on the Great Circle and your peace be complete.
posted by blessedlyndie at 8:37 PM on April 21, 2016 [53 favorites]
It was my first "non-church" friends sleep-over. I was 12. And my host, Jennifer, a dear friend to this day, decided we should watch a movie and put on Purple Rain. At first, I resisted: my old friend can still tell you about the 10 minute lecture (sermon) I gave about how watching a rock-n-roll movie would send us all to hell. In my effort to save their souls, I kept looking at the screen and finally, I just couldn't look away anymore. When the movie was over, the other party-goers went off to other things. I rewound Purple Rain and watched it again. Alone. And thus a weird, queer, brown Midwestern girl found a hero.
Tonight the local oldies station played "Mountains" followed by "Sometimes It Snows in April" and I've never cried so hard for someone that I've never met.
There aren't words for my gratitude to Prince. There aren't words for my despair at his early passing. I can only say to him: may your ancestors greet you on the Great Circle and your peace be complete.
posted by blessedlyndie at 8:37 PM on April 21, 2016 [53 favorites]
San Francisco City Hall is lit up in purple tonight. A friend who took me to a Prince show last year just texted me photos of it.
posted by gingerbeer at 8:43 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by gingerbeer at 8:43 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Sad news. He was so full of life, dying too young.
First time hearing about Prince anecdote. In the winter of 1982, I was living in New Delhi, having been out of America for 12 years by then, 7 of those years continuously in India, quite cut off from anything Western. I'd left America, NYC, in 1970.
For a year I'd been working and living with, a Brooklyn born fashion designer, Paul, who would take business trips from New Delhi back to NYC. I was so curious about American culture, had not seen a tv in 7 years, only occasionally got a look at a Time magazine in a New Delhi fancy hotel lobby. When Paul returned from his trips I'd always ask him to describe what kind of culture changes were going on in America.
That winter he said that there was this cool, tiny Puerto Rican singer (he didn't know Prince was African American), called Prince, who wears high heels, feminine, a different kind of performer. In his blunt way he said something like American culture was accepting people's sexuality being more fluid and that Prince was helping to pioneer this as a musician. Paul had a mixtape with 1999 on it. I felt that I was listening to history in the making.
May Prince rest in peace.
posted by nickyskye at 8:50 PM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
First time hearing about Prince anecdote. In the winter of 1982, I was living in New Delhi, having been out of America for 12 years by then, 7 of those years continuously in India, quite cut off from anything Western. I'd left America, NYC, in 1970.
For a year I'd been working and living with, a Brooklyn born fashion designer, Paul, who would take business trips from New Delhi back to NYC. I was so curious about American culture, had not seen a tv in 7 years, only occasionally got a look at a Time magazine in a New Delhi fancy hotel lobby. When Paul returned from his trips I'd always ask him to describe what kind of culture changes were going on in America.
That winter he said that there was this cool, tiny Puerto Rican singer (he didn't know Prince was African American), called Prince, who wears high heels, feminine, a different kind of performer. In his blunt way he said something like American culture was accepting people's sexuality being more fluid and that Prince was helping to pioneer this as a musician. Paul had a mixtape with 1999 on it. I felt that I was listening to history in the making.
May Prince rest in peace.
posted by nickyskye at 8:50 PM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
fight or flight: “Also, among the many tributes, the current weather according to The Guardian's website.”I just realized why the rain icon was purple on Weather Underground. Then again I was embarrassingly old when I figured out what Nikki was actually doing with that magazine in the hotel lobby, so….
posted by ob1quixote at 8:52 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Darren Hayes has a cute story of Prince requesting to see Star Wars on his tour bus
posted by divabat at 9:09 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by divabat at 9:09 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
When you live in the same neighborhood where Spike Lee has his office, this is the kind of thing that can happen.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:11 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:11 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
It took me an awkwardly long time to figure out whether there was any sort of mechanical* involvement with the magazine, and also how exactly masturbation worked, but that I thought about it at all was entirely Prince's fault.
*I think of this every time I watch the Ash-Ripley fight where he grabs the porn magazine and attempts to...internally choke her with it. These two things are worryingly caught up together in my mind.
posted by Lyn Never at 9:11 PM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
*I think of this every time I watch the Ash-Ripley fight where he grabs the porn magazine and attempts to...internally choke her with it. These two things are worryingly caught up together in my mind.
posted by Lyn Never at 9:11 PM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
Corey Taylor was scheduled to play First Avenue tonight [Caution: Language]. He didn't shy away.
posted by ob1quixote at 9:17 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by ob1quixote at 9:17 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
Looks like Stephen Whitty & Celsius1414's wish came true
posted by Brainy at 9:31 PM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Brainy at 9:31 PM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
.
posted by spinifex23 at 9:33 PM on April 21, 2016
posted by spinifex23 at 9:33 PM on April 21, 2016
I still remember hearing Sign O' the Times for the first time. It was such a shock.
Me too. I pretty much drove directly to the record store, bought the 12" single of the title track & listened to it for a couple of hours. What an amazing song.
I haven't been a constant, heavy listener, so it's only now with his death that I'm really remembering how hugely influential he was. I bought Around The World In a Day right after it came out, & my girlfriend had Purple Rain, & man, we tried like hell to emulate that sound for a couple of years in the mid-80's when I had my Funk-Pop orchestra going. We failed because it was an impossible task, but it sure was eye-opening as an artist to be exposed to that level of brilliance.
I still have the title track of Sign O' The Times on my iPod & I will still hit the back button 3 or 4 times whenever it comes on. The lyrics, if a tad dated, are forceful & the melody sublime. The guitar is understated & fucking perfect. How did he put gritty blues riffs overtop a sampled techno-funk beat & get away with it? Mind-blowing.
The guitarist in my cover band is a huge fan & I know this one is gonna be hard on him. We have a gig next weekend & Kiss has been in our rotation for 10 years... I imagine that's going to get extended.
posted by Devils Rancher at 9:36 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Me too. I pretty much drove directly to the record store, bought the 12" single of the title track & listened to it for a couple of hours. What an amazing song.
I haven't been a constant, heavy listener, so it's only now with his death that I'm really remembering how hugely influential he was. I bought Around The World In a Day right after it came out, & my girlfriend had Purple Rain, & man, we tried like hell to emulate that sound for a couple of years in the mid-80's when I had my Funk-Pop orchestra going. We failed because it was an impossible task, but it sure was eye-opening as an artist to be exposed to that level of brilliance.
I still have the title track of Sign O' The Times on my iPod & I will still hit the back button 3 or 4 times whenever it comes on. The lyrics, if a tad dated, are forceful & the melody sublime. The guitar is understated & fucking perfect. How did he put gritty blues riffs overtop a sampled techno-funk beat & get away with it? Mind-blowing.
The guitarist in my cover band is a huge fan & I know this one is gonna be hard on him. We have a gig next weekend & Kiss has been in our rotation for 10 years... I imagine that's going to get extended.
posted by Devils Rancher at 9:36 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Also, holy crap, that solo on the Harrison tribute thing. I had never seen that until today - it's rare to see someone so completely at one with, a part of, a guitar like that. I mean, I knew he could play everything and was considered a virtuoso by all who worked with him in the real sense of the word, but.. Damn.
posted by Devils Rancher at 9:45 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Devils Rancher at 9:45 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Prince treated for a drug overdose six days ago | Looking frail a few hours before his death | He was predeceased by his infant son, Boy Gregory, 20 years ago | The Santa Monica Observer's article on the cause of Prince's death.
posted by nickyskye at 9:54 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by nickyskye at 9:54 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
Jesus. Lonnie Mack died today too.
posted by futz at 9:58 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by futz at 9:58 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Damn nickyskye, AIDS is what was rumored but I am really surprised that SMO published that without confirmation. Still in shock.
posted by futz at 10:10 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by futz at 10:10 PM on April 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
I went up to the memorial and left a message from MetaFilter. I grabbed the contents of this thread as of 8PM, stripped out the bylines and blank lines, and printed it on one piece of paper front and back. The printing was done at 1 point font and is not readable but it's all there. I folded it up into a dove and put it in the fence. After the bike ride and putting it in the fence it's a little less dove like. Here are some not great pictures I got at the memorial with my phone. This really is just a printout of grey lines, but I felt it was symbolic anyway and I didn't want to put people's words where they didn't want them.
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 10:13 PM on April 21, 2016 [183 favorites]
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 10:13 PM on April 21, 2016 [183 favorites]
Clinging to the Wreckage, you did a good thing and I thank you for it!
posted by blessedlyndie at 10:33 PM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by blessedlyndie at 10:33 PM on April 21, 2016 [6 favorites]
Clinging to the Wreckage: Absolutely and thoroughly awesome.
posted by CommonSense at 10:33 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by CommonSense at 10:33 PM on April 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
Wow! Clinging to the Wreckage, heartfelt thanks to you for your efforts!
posted by S'Tella Fabula at 10:38 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by S'Tella Fabula at 10:38 PM on April 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
So, I've been in the air most of the day, flying to San Francisco, and have spent the rest of the day having a great time with family and away from any news. Now, I finally have a moment before I crash in bed to check-in with Metafilter and discover this terrible news.
WTF 2016?????????
posted by Thorzdad at 10:46 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
WTF 2016?????????
posted by Thorzdad at 10:46 PM on April 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
When a tragedy cuts you so deep that you want to willingly watch Graffiti Bridge in spite of oh god why would you want to do that?
posted by Senor Cardgage at 11:12 PM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Senor Cardgage at 11:12 PM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
you want to willingly watch Graffiti Bridge in spite of oh god why would you want to do that?
particularly when you could watch Sign 'o' the times
posted by philip-random at 11:55 PM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
particularly when you could watch Sign 'o' the times
posted by philip-random at 11:55 PM on April 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
India, 1986, long distance bus.
The youngish driver is blasting tunes, and notices tourist me up near the front. He asks with manic glee, "Got any REALLY FAST music?" thinking, I dunno, Motley Crue? I had a cassette of Prince's "Around the World in a Day."
The first song is slow and vaguely Indian, baffling everybody. Then it kicks in, and the driver starts yelling "Whooo!" like Prince, over and over, and speeding up like you do when you're driving and the music's is just too damn great. Our bus was zooming through the Himalayan foothills and around corners precariously, leaving the other passengers confused and alarmed.
We almost died. Magic moment.
posted by msalt at 11:56 PM on April 21, 2016 [34 favorites]
The youngish driver is blasting tunes, and notices tourist me up near the front. He asks with manic glee, "Got any REALLY FAST music?" thinking, I dunno, Motley Crue? I had a cassette of Prince's "Around the World in a Day."
The first song is slow and vaguely Indian, baffling everybody. Then it kicks in, and the driver starts yelling "Whooo!" like Prince, over and over, and speeding up like you do when you're driving and the music's is just too damn great. Our bus was zooming through the Himalayan foothills and around corners precariously, leaving the other passengers confused and alarmed.
We almost died. Magic moment.
posted by msalt at 11:56 PM on April 21, 2016 [34 favorites]
METAFILTER: We almost died. Magic moment.
posted by philip-random at 12:06 AM on April 22, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by philip-random at 12:06 AM on April 22, 2016 [12 favorites]
.
Was never a fan, personally, but as far back as I can remember, he was one of those people who just wrote catchy songs, and I thought he'd largely slid into irrelevancy for years, pumping out albums no one cared for and generally hiding away from the world like a Miss Haversham : until he toured here in February.
I had people all around me scrambling for tickets, organising cross country flights with less than two weeks notice.
It was quite something.
And then they saw him and raved and raved and raved, and I realised he had much more as a career going than I realised.
I woke up to this news, and I haven't listened to a single Prince song, because I own no songs sung by Prince (but more than a few songs covered by other people, like Gary Numan's 1999, Simple Minds and Blood Uncles' Lets Go Crazy ... and I thought Max Headroom, but I can't seem to find any proof that exists anywhere outside my brain), but I decided even though his music isn't in my wheelhouse, he definitely could write some solid songs that could surviving being re-interpreted because they're fundamentally solid song.
And, yeah, that Rock and Roll Hall of Fame version of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" is just staggering, and it's a fundamentally awesome song when the Beatles do it. Did it.
posted by Mezentian at 12:10 AM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
Was never a fan, personally, but as far back as I can remember, he was one of those people who just wrote catchy songs, and I thought he'd largely slid into irrelevancy for years, pumping out albums no one cared for and generally hiding away from the world like a Miss Haversham : until he toured here in February.
I had people all around me scrambling for tickets, organising cross country flights with less than two weeks notice.
It was quite something.
And then they saw him and raved and raved and raved, and I realised he had much more as a career going than I realised.
I woke up to this news, and I haven't listened to a single Prince song, because I own no songs sung by Prince (but more than a few songs covered by other people, like Gary Numan's 1999, Simple Minds and Blood Uncles' Lets Go Crazy ... and I thought Max Headroom, but I can't seem to find any proof that exists anywhere outside my brain), but I decided even though his music isn't in my wheelhouse, he definitely could write some solid songs that could surviving being re-interpreted because they're fundamentally solid song.
And, yeah, that Rock and Roll Hall of Fame version of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" is just staggering, and it's a fundamentally awesome song when the Beatles do it. Did it.
posted by Mezentian at 12:10 AM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
.
This always makes me smile (even at the moment): Sheila E. with Prince - A Love Bizarre.
posted by On the Corner at 12:36 AM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
This always makes me smile (even at the moment): Sheila E. with Prince - A Love Bizarre.
posted by On the Corner at 12:36 AM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
.
posted by How the runs scored at 1:01 AM on April 22, 2016
posted by How the runs scored at 1:01 AM on April 22, 2016
One note: Prince was so rigorous about keeping his material off the interwebs that, now that he's dead, there isn't really that much to share with others online about the legacy he left.
when prince emerged a few years ago on twitter and youtube (for awhile) - "So far, Prince has more than 45,000 followers. Naturally, he follows no one."
-crimson & clover (over and over...)
-empty room
-somewhere here on earth
-purple rain
.
posted by kliuless at 1:23 AM on April 22, 2016 [19 favorites]
when prince emerged a few years ago on twitter and youtube (for awhile) - "So far, Prince has more than 45,000 followers. Naturally, he follows no one."
A GIRL WITH A GUITAR IS 12 TIMES BETTER THAN ANOTHER CRAZY BAND OF BOYS [let's go crazy reloaded] — PRINCE 3RDEYEGIRL (@3rdeyegirl) May 24, 2013some hero saved these from yt:
-crimson & clover (over and over...)
-empty room
-somewhere here on earth
-purple rain
.
posted by kliuless at 1:23 AM on April 22, 2016 [19 favorites]
.
And the Purple Rain guitar solo still gets to me after all these years. Absolutely amazing.
posted by Halo in reverse at 1:32 AM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
And the Purple Rain guitar solo still gets to me after all these years. Absolutely amazing.
posted by Halo in reverse at 1:32 AM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
As a young bunhead, one of the things I always loved Prince for was opening his music vaults for free to a then almost-bankrupt Joffrey Ballet (as I remember the story going). The result was Billboards, which the critics called uneven, but to an idealistic teen bunhead, was a something like a bridge out to the "normals", showing them that dance wasn't just snooty staid stuffy formality. I don't think I'd ever seen a ballet audience grooving en mass half out of their seats until then. You can hear the whooping and cheering in the videos; not your normal ballet experience.
First half of Sometimes It Snows in April choreographed by Laura Dean
First half of Slide choreographed by Margo Sappington ("Computer Blue" & "I Wanna Melt with U")
I found some more but they're on a site named rutube.ru, so not sure how dodgy said site is. So, beware and practice safe browsing and whatnot.
posted by romakimmy at 1:39 AM on April 22, 2016 [15 favorites]
First half of Sometimes It Snows in April choreographed by Laura Dean
First half of Slide choreographed by Margo Sappington ("Computer Blue" & "I Wanna Melt with U")
I found some more but they're on a site named rutube.ru, so not sure how dodgy said site is. So, beware and practice safe browsing and whatnot.
- Second half of Sometimes It Snows in April choreographed by Laura Dean ("Trust" / "Baby I'm a Star")
- Second half of Slide choreographed by Margo Sappington ("The Beautiful Ones", "Release It" (by The Time)/ "Computer Blue" Reprise)
- Willing & Able choreographed by Peter Pucci "It", "Willing and Able, Encore
posted by romakimmy at 1:39 AM on April 22, 2016 [15 favorites]
.
"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." - Dr. Seuss
posted by 404 Not Found at 2:17 AM on April 22, 2016 [11 favorites]
"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." - Dr. Seuss
posted by 404 Not Found at 2:17 AM on April 22, 2016 [11 favorites]
Lenny Kravitz & Prince - American Woman
That's like, way too much sexy for just one stage.
posted by romakimmy at 2:22 AM on April 22, 2016 [8 favorites]
That's like, way too much sexy for just one stage.
posted by romakimmy at 2:22 AM on April 22, 2016 [8 favorites]
Goodbye, Prince. Thanks so much for all the great music.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 2:27 AM on April 22, 2016
posted by flapjax at midnite at 2:27 AM on April 22, 2016
I was too young to be truly appreciative of Prince in the 80s and I was listening to other stuff when I was a bit older although I started listening to him again later in my early twenties when I started to get nostalgic about the 80s/90s music I grew up with and really started listening to a lot of it again and exploring more of it that I was not familiar with. But I only really started to understand just how great he was in the last decade or so. I started watching him play in live videos and I was like, holy shit this is not the guy I heard on the radio. Watching someone like Slash play blows my mind, but watching Prince play I felt like the instrument and Prince were one entity, stupid as that may sound. It is not better or worse, but it is something that transcends my understanding. I can not imagine having the ability he had.
But after years of loving music but not having the drive to actually try to do anything in so far as playing, I bought a few cheap guitars and now I have a wishlist of the bloody things. I am still not going to impress anybody but I enjoy it and I have found my fumbling to be one of the best things to deal with anxiety/depression issues that I have ever tried. I doubt I would have ever taken the plunge if I hadn't watched Prince in a few videos where he just looked like he was having the time of his life just enjoying playing and it made me want to at least try.
Recently when I was talking with someone about the other musicians we have lost this year, the topic of concerts came up. And discussing how few concerts I have been to in my life compared to the person I was speaking with, someone who sees an average of 3 live acts a month, I said there were many concerts I wish I had been able to see when I was younger but right then the only person actively performing that I would really hate not seeing in concert at some point was Prince and that I needed to find a way to do that. I should have came to that realization a few years ago I guess. It is strange to suddenly be effected so strongly by something that you would not have expected much of an impact from. Usually it is mild sadness and disappointment that someone whose work i enjoyed is gone but I've been miserable all evening/night. I think it is just shock. I think part of me expected to see Prince making music when he was as old as Willie Nelson or something. I don't even know what I am typing at this point. Going on 24 hours without sleep now and all I know is that this year sucks.
posted by weretable and the undead chairs at 2:42 AM on April 22, 2016 [4 favorites]
But after years of loving music but not having the drive to actually try to do anything in so far as playing, I bought a few cheap guitars and now I have a wishlist of the bloody things. I am still not going to impress anybody but I enjoy it and I have found my fumbling to be one of the best things to deal with anxiety/depression issues that I have ever tried. I doubt I would have ever taken the plunge if I hadn't watched Prince in a few videos where he just looked like he was having the time of his life just enjoying playing and it made me want to at least try.
Recently when I was talking with someone about the other musicians we have lost this year, the topic of concerts came up. And discussing how few concerts I have been to in my life compared to the person I was speaking with, someone who sees an average of 3 live acts a month, I said there were many concerts I wish I had been able to see when I was younger but right then the only person actively performing that I would really hate not seeing in concert at some point was Prince and that I needed to find a way to do that. I should have came to that realization a few years ago I guess. It is strange to suddenly be effected so strongly by something that you would not have expected much of an impact from. Usually it is mild sadness and disappointment that someone whose work i enjoyed is gone but I've been miserable all evening/night. I think it is just shock. I think part of me expected to see Prince making music when he was as old as Willie Nelson or something. I don't even know what I am typing at this point. Going on 24 hours without sleep now and all I know is that this year sucks.
posted by weretable and the undead chairs at 2:42 AM on April 22, 2016 [4 favorites]
Someone mentioned upthread that there are so many tunes they'd like to link to but can't. Looks like stuff is being pulled from YouTube like crazy. So, I'm gonna break protocol here a bit, and link to a Facebook video (that's generally not done, right?), but because it's FB and not YT, it might be up longer.
The video is amazing, it's the full, 13 minute live version of Purple Rain from which the album version mostly came. But unedited. It's magnificent. And the uploader has included text throughout the clip, running commentary explaining how this uneditied recording and the familiar album version compare. Check it out.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 2:48 AM on April 22, 2016 [5 favorites]
The video is amazing, it's the full, 13 minute live version of Purple Rain from which the album version mostly came. But unedited. It's magnificent. And the uploader has included text throughout the clip, running commentary explaining how this uneditied recording and the familiar album version compare. Check it out.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 2:48 AM on April 22, 2016 [5 favorites]
I wonder who'll end up taking control of his estate, what attitude they'll take to releasing a ton of previously unheard stuff and where that attitude will fall on the spectrum between loving care and cheap, shitty exploitation?
posted by Paul Slade at 3:06 AM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Paul Slade at 3:06 AM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
If there any case where an estate worth a significant amount ends up being less litigious and controlling?
posted by Mitheral at 3:46 AM on April 22, 2016
posted by Mitheral at 3:46 AM on April 22, 2016
Basically everything Prince is sold out on Amazon.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 4:19 AM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 4:19 AM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
Okay listening to The Color Purple cast sing Purple Rain finally left me totally wrecked. Thank you, Prince, for all the music and the example of excellence you set for all of us.
posted by Joey Michaels at 4:45 AM on April 22, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 4:45 AM on April 22, 2016 [3 favorites]
Found a precious online source of Prince: the awesome vid for Musicology
I love everything about this video, so happy to have found it again. I had it on my headphones this morning and danced down a London back street to it, and I will be watching it every time I get sad today.
.
posted by greenish at 5:09 AM on April 22, 2016 [8 favorites]
I love everything about this video, so happy to have found it again. I had it on my headphones this morning and danced down a London back street to it, and I will be watching it every time I get sad today.
.
posted by greenish at 5:09 AM on April 22, 2016 [8 favorites]
Oh Prince, your eyebrows promised immortality, but we'll have to settle with dubbing you legendary. Thank you for all the music.
.
posted by LMGM at 5:10 AM on April 22, 2016
.
posted by LMGM at 5:10 AM on April 22, 2016
Also: I am loving the fact that the social mediasphere is awash with video supercuts of Prince giving side-eye and come-hither sneers.
posted by LMGM at 5:11 AM on April 22, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by LMGM at 5:11 AM on April 22, 2016 [10 favorites]
Easily one of the most unique, original, talented - and prolific - musicians to ever walk this Earth.
This rare live version of my favorite Prince song is just amazing - who else ever got even vaguely close to this level of overall greatness?
RIP, Purple King.
posted by dbiedny at 5:30 AM on April 22, 2016 [5 favorites]
This rare live version of my favorite Prince song is just amazing - who else ever got even vaguely close to this level of overall greatness?
RIP, Purple King.
posted by dbiedny at 5:30 AM on April 22, 2016 [5 favorites]
Basically everything Prince is sold out on Amazon.
Good news, they're going to Tupac the shit out of Prince so hard "to Tupac" will stop being a verb.
I mean, if Tupac had six (or so Wikipedia tells me) posthumous albums and Prince has 100 or so albums worth of stuff... well, I mean.... they could release four albums a year and we'll be close to 2050 before they run out of stuff.
posted by Mezentian at 5:36 AM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
Good news, they're going to Tupac the shit out of Prince so hard "to Tupac" will stop being a verb.
I mean, if Tupac had six (or so Wikipedia tells me) posthumous albums and Prince has 100 or so albums worth of stuff... well, I mean.... they could release four albums a year and we'll be close to 2050 before they run out of stuff.
posted by Mezentian at 5:36 AM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
Just so everyone knows, the dance party here in Minneapolis at First Avenue is still going strong at nearly 8:00 a.m. local time, and aside from scheduled shows from Bob Mould, it's scheduled to continue every night for three days, from last night through Saturday night. Much love for the house that Prince built.
posted by Muddler at 5:38 AM on April 22, 2016 [32 favorites]
posted by Muddler at 5:38 AM on April 22, 2016 [32 favorites]
Today's New York Daily News front page.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:23 AM on April 22, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:23 AM on April 22, 2016 [7 favorites]
.
I wonder what will happen with the streaming rights of his music. I really wanted to listen to Erotic City, and the best thing I could find was a copy of a karaoke video, which made me extra sad (I'm away from home, on a free wifi connection, so I'm not going to buy anything online here).
posted by filthy light thief at 6:27 AM on April 22, 2016
I wonder what will happen with the streaming rights of his music. I really wanted to listen to Erotic City, and the best thing I could find was a copy of a karaoke video, which made me extra sad (I'm away from home, on a free wifi connection, so I'm not going to buy anything online here).
posted by filthy light thief at 6:27 AM on April 22, 2016
Prince was an unapologetically sexy and sexual black man and that made a lot of white people very uncomfortable. Thanks for that Prince and for all of the music.
posted by Sophie1 at 6:46 AM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Sophie1 at 6:46 AM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
and aside from scheduled shows from Bob Mould
That's actually quite perfect.
I wonder what will happen with the streaming rights of his music
One of two things, depending on who owns the rights:
1. Someone;s going to make mad bank.
2. Someone will respect his wishes.
Hmmmm.
posted by Mezentian at 6:49 AM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
That's actually quite perfect.
I wonder what will happen with the streaming rights of his music
One of two things, depending on who owns the rights:
1. Someone;s going to make mad bank.
2. Someone will respect his wishes.
Hmmmm.
posted by Mezentian at 6:49 AM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
I just heard the news. I'm a huge Prince fan, and will always be. I'm ..... I don't even know. Sometimes it snows in April.
.
posted by Catblack at 6:54 AM on April 22, 2016
.
posted by Catblack at 6:54 AM on April 22, 2016
Prince was an unapologetically sexy and sexual black man
I am, most assuredly, not quite in a position to comment, but I will.
I'm not sure about the first, personally, but you are correct about the second.
Strange, to think he was so conservative at the same time.
(In the off years, I remember seeing a skit about Prince door-knocking as an LDS member when he was a figure of fun, cannot remember where).
Tonight, the news called him androgynous, which I didn't see at the time (I guess when you're compared with Boy George and Marilyn you look pretty buttoned up), but I could see in his retrospective.
Hindsight.
posted by Mezentian at 6:56 AM on April 22, 2016
I am, most assuredly, not quite in a position to comment, but I will.
I'm not sure about the first, personally, but you are correct about the second.
Strange, to think he was so conservative at the same time.
(In the off years, I remember seeing a skit about Prince door-knocking as an LDS member when he was a figure of fun, cannot remember where).
Tonight, the news called him androgynous, which I didn't see at the time (I guess when you're compared with Boy George and Marilyn you look pretty buttoned up), but I could see in his retrospective.
Hindsight.
posted by Mezentian at 6:56 AM on April 22, 2016
greenish Thanks so much for the link to Musicology video! Had not seen it in too long. It is joyful and wonderful. I will be playing it a lot today.
posted by narancia at 6:59 AM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by narancia at 6:59 AM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
Today's New York Daily News front page.
EC, tell me you didn't miss the back page?
(to be fair, I usually avoid the sport too).
posted by Mezentian at 7:03 AM on April 22, 2016
EC, tell me you didn't miss the back page?
(to be fair, I usually avoid the sport too).
posted by Mezentian at 7:03 AM on April 22, 2016
Mezentian - I agree with you. I was commenting more on his persona in the 80's when I first saw him. He was so unapologetic about his sexuality. Didn'tGAF and I really was blown away by that.
posted by Sophie1 at 7:05 AM on April 22, 2016
posted by Sophie1 at 7:05 AM on April 22, 2016
I only commented because I had never heard anyone (that I can recall, there has been a lot of wine under the bridge) refer to him as sexay, but sexual? Hell yes.
Which, now I think on it, is odd.
I half seriously blame heightism.
posted by Mezentian at 7:09 AM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
Which, now I think on it, is odd.
I half seriously blame heightism.
posted by Mezentian at 7:09 AM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
Oh god, all my friends (girls and boys) in the 80s (and 90s and now) thought that Prince was sexy. Watching Purple Rain last night only fortified that thought for me.
He was damn sexy.
posted by cooker girl at 7:18 AM on April 22, 2016 [9 favorites]
He was damn sexy.
posted by cooker girl at 7:18 AM on April 22, 2016 [9 favorites]
I was about 9 when Diamonds and Pearls came out, and that's how Prince came to be one of my very first childhood celebrity crushes. I was too young and naive to get why he was so attractive to me - but he was so goddamned cool, and his attitude toward sex and gender was SO different than that of my family. That crush lingered at least until I was in college. Long enough for me to recognize that part of his appeal was that he was suuuuuper hot.
My family somewhat policed my love of Prince, saying he was too vulgar, disgusting, etc. They didn't actually stop me from listening to him or watching his videos, but they let me know my affection for him was weird. It didn't matter, I was a Prince convert for life.
I'm an emotionally reserved person in my everyday life. Prince gave me an outlet for huge, fun emotions that I didn't really know how to express by myself. There were other artists who also performed that role for me, but Prince has always been one of the big ones. His death has broken my heart more than any other artists's death, in quite some time. I cannot remember the last time I cried when a famous musician died. But I have cried for Prince, and the idea that fabulous, beloved man might have died alone in an elevator.
posted by Coatlicue at 7:25 AM on April 22, 2016 [5 favorites]
My family somewhat policed my love of Prince, saying he was too vulgar, disgusting, etc. They didn't actually stop me from listening to him or watching his videos, but they let me know my affection for him was weird. It didn't matter, I was a Prince convert for life.
I'm an emotionally reserved person in my everyday life. Prince gave me an outlet for huge, fun emotions that I didn't really know how to express by myself. There were other artists who also performed that role for me, but Prince has always been one of the big ones. His death has broken my heart more than any other artists's death, in quite some time. I cannot remember the last time I cried when a famous musician died. But I have cried for Prince, and the idea that fabulous, beloved man might have died alone in an elevator.
posted by Coatlicue at 7:25 AM on April 22, 2016 [5 favorites]
Holy crap. I had avoided Color Purple tribute linked above because I had other Prince things to do but, man, that mowed me right down.
And we all know Prince didn't die.
posted by petebest at 7:29 AM on April 22, 2016 [6 favorites]
And we all know Prince didn't die.
posted by petebest at 7:29 AM on April 22, 2016 [6 favorites]
I'm an emotionally reserved person in my everyday life. Prince gave me an outlet for huge, fun emotions that I didn't really know how to express by myself.
You just put into words this feeling I've been having. I thought his music was great, and his stage performance was as good as I've seen, but I couldn't quite put my finger on the loss I've been feeling. This is exactly what it is. I have the same feelings when I watch or listen to Freddie Mercury and I had the same reaction when he died, but I more or less knew at the time that was my deal with him. I like to imagine myself having the guts to just go for it like Prince or Freddie did. It's sometimes enough to have moments by myself with their music where I can let it out in safety.
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 7:35 AM on April 22, 2016 [6 favorites]
You just put into words this feeling I've been having. I thought his music was great, and his stage performance was as good as I've seen, but I couldn't quite put my finger on the loss I've been feeling. This is exactly what it is. I have the same feelings when I watch or listen to Freddie Mercury and I had the same reaction when he died, but I more or less knew at the time that was my deal with him. I like to imagine myself having the guts to just go for it like Prince or Freddie did. It's sometimes enough to have moments by myself with their music where I can let it out in safety.
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 7:35 AM on April 22, 2016 [6 favorites]
Niagara Falls lit in purple last night.
posted by everybody had matching towels at 7:39 AM on April 22, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by everybody had matching towels at 7:39 AM on April 22, 2016 [3 favorites]
Just so everyone knows, the dance party here in Minneapolis at First Avenue is still going strong at nearly 8:00 a.m. local time, and aside from scheduled shows from Bob Mould, it's scheduled to continue every night for three days, from last night through Saturday night. Much love for the house that Prince built.
That's actually quite perfect.
For those not familiar, the outside of First Avenue is covered in silver stars on the otherwise pitch black building. Each star has the name of someone that performed in the club.
Prince's star is directly above Bob Mould's star.
posted by Muddler at 7:42 AM on April 22, 2016 [4 favorites]
That's actually quite perfect.
For those not familiar, the outside of First Avenue is covered in silver stars on the otherwise pitch black building. Each star has the name of someone that performed in the club.
Prince's star is directly above Bob Mould's star.
posted by Muddler at 7:42 AM on April 22, 2016 [4 favorites]
SO SEXUAL! The pubes, the pants, the guitar between his legs, the chest hair, the sex!
posted by Sophie1 at 7:44 AM on April 22, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Sophie1 at 7:44 AM on April 22, 2016 [3 favorites]
I cried for hours yesterday and couldn't post here.
Second half of that Electrifying Mojo interview.
I'll be watching Under the Cherry Moon all weekend.
With Love, There Is No Death...I will love you forever, you tiny miracle.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 7:48 AM on April 22, 2016 [4 favorites]
Second half of that Electrifying Mojo interview.
I'll be watching Under the Cherry Moon all weekend.
With Love, There Is No Death...I will love you forever, you tiny miracle.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 7:48 AM on April 22, 2016 [4 favorites]
Boston's Zakim Bridge, South Station, and Government Center all lit up purple last night.
(Government Center was rebuilt over the past couple of years and just reopened. I got into a quasi-drunken dispute with a gentleman outside a bar who was complaining about the waste he perceived in installing exterior LED lighting that could change color. I hope he regrets it now!)
posted by praemunire at 7:49 AM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
(Government Center was rebuilt over the past couple of years and just reopened. I got into a quasi-drunken dispute with a gentleman outside a bar who was complaining about the waste he perceived in installing exterior LED lighting that could change color. I hope he regrets it now!)
posted by praemunire at 7:49 AM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
Not sure if this has been posted before, but I just found a decent (except for a stupid logo) clip of the BET Lifetime Achievement Award tribute with performances by Janelle Monáe, Esperanza Spalding, Alicia Keys, and Patti LaBelle (also featuring Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Jehovah, and a smiling and somewhat overwhelmed Prince).
posted by effbot at 7:50 AM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by effbot at 7:50 AM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
> Holy crap. I had avoided Color Purple tribute
Crying at my desk all over again dammit.
A friend from college commented last night on my "fuck you 2016" post on fb, saying do you remember how we couldn't cross campus that fall (1984) without hearing Prince pouring from dorm windows? And I remember that, and I remember how the (straight) guys downstairs played Wham! all the time (all.the.time), and how Carol down the hall would drag her speakers into the hall for impromptu dance parties to Upstairs at Eric's, and how I had a huge crush on a girl who made me dinner while we listened to China Girl, and how my supervisor at the dining hall would put Culture Club on the boom box as we set up for breakfast. It was such a queer musical time, and I had no idea how lucky I was to be alive right then.
posted by rtha at 7:54 AM on April 22, 2016 [32 favorites]
Crying at my desk all over again dammit.
A friend from college commented last night on my "fuck you 2016" post on fb, saying do you remember how we couldn't cross campus that fall (1984) without hearing Prince pouring from dorm windows? And I remember that, and I remember how the (straight) guys downstairs played Wham! all the time (all.the.time), and how Carol down the hall would drag her speakers into the hall for impromptu dance parties to Upstairs at Eric's, and how I had a huge crush on a girl who made me dinner while we listened to China Girl, and how my supervisor at the dining hall would put Culture Club on the boom box as we set up for breakfast. It was such a queer musical time, and I had no idea how lucky I was to be alive right then.
posted by rtha at 7:54 AM on April 22, 2016 [32 favorites]
Clinging to the wreckage, I read something on Twitter last night to the effect of, and I'm massively paraphrasing because I can't find it:
We are mourning Bowie and Prince not because we knew them, but because they helped us know ourselves.
posted by Sophie1 at 8:00 AM on April 22, 2016 [25 favorites]
We are mourning Bowie and Prince not because we knew them, but because they helped us know ourselves.
posted by Sophie1 at 8:00 AM on April 22, 2016 [25 favorites]
Thank you so much, Clinging to the Wreckage.
Here in Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Power and Light building is often lit up in various ways, and last night its Twitter feed promised it'd be lit up purple. I didn't get a chance to go see it, though.
posted by Gelatin at 8:05 AM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
Here in Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Power and Light building is often lit up in various ways, and last night its Twitter feed promised it'd be lit up purple. I didn't get a chance to go see it, though.
posted by Gelatin at 8:05 AM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
Oh god, all my friends (girls and boys) in the 80s (and 90s and now) thought that Prince was sexy
Our orbits are different, but I stand corrected.
posted by Mezentian at 8:10 AM on April 22, 2016
Our orbits are different, but I stand corrected.
posted by Mezentian at 8:10 AM on April 22, 2016
Bowie aside, I can't think of many people who were so well-known and also so universally loved. Even Michael Jackson had some clouds over his legacy that made some people not like him. But I haven't seen that with Prince and the total global outpouring of love I've seen for him in the last 24 hours has been so comforting. The tribute from The Color Purple cast brought me to tears. We all loved Prince.
posted by triggerfinger at 8:20 AM on April 22, 2016
posted by triggerfinger at 8:20 AM on April 22, 2016
Yeah, that's my feeling, in my office and Facebook, everyone from 20-60, Republicans, Democrats, Mormons, Muslims, company directors, baristas, everyone loved Prince.
posted by zutalors! at 8:23 AM on April 22, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by zutalors! at 8:23 AM on April 22, 2016 [3 favorites]
I found this great story (public Facebook post) from the hair metal band Tyketto about their run in with Prince overseas when he decided to play a surprise show at the club they had booked, so they opened for him.
posted by COD at 8:24 AM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by COD at 8:24 AM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
I had a discussion IRL tonight where, musically, Prince was a Gen X artist, and the biggest Gen X artist to die.
It involved lots of handwaving and shouting (Hi, ABC Australia, you were wrong) but boils down to Prince was big circa the early '80s to the mid-90s, which is peak Gen X formation time.
As far as Gen X can be defined.
Thoughts?
posted by Mezentian at 8:25 AM on April 22, 2016 [6 favorites]
It involved lots of handwaving and shouting (Hi, ABC Australia, you were wrong) but boils down to Prince was big circa the early '80s to the mid-90s, which is peak Gen X formation time.
As far as Gen X can be defined.
Thoughts?
posted by Mezentian at 8:25 AM on April 22, 2016 [6 favorites]
I had a discussion IRL tonight where, musically, Prince was a Gen X artist, and the biggest Gen X artist to die.
Interesting perhaps as historical fact, but otherwise Prince transcended all that and I dislike seeming pigeonholed anything other than "an incredible musical genius that will be sorely missed".
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:27 AM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
Interesting perhaps as historical fact, but otherwise Prince transcended all that and I dislike seeming pigeonholed anything other than "an incredible musical genius that will be sorely missed".
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:27 AM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
Hmm, I feel like the biggest Gen X artist to die was Kurt Cobain. Prince kind of transcends generations, Kurt was like - very- of that moment.
posted by zutalors! at 8:27 AM on April 22, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by zutalors! at 8:27 AM on April 22, 2016 [6 favorites]
I found this great story (public Facebook post) from the hair metal band Tyketto about their run in with Prince overseas when he decided to play a surprise show at the club they had booked, so they opened for him.
There's an AMAZING story about Prince rocking up to a Jazz club, which I read here and later heard about on ABC TV, that I thought was awesome.
Turning up to a tiny jazz club for a set, just because.... I respected Prince as a song-writer, but on hearing that (and other stories about his last tour) I can't help but think he was an amazing person, because it seemed he was all about the music.
posted by Mezentian at 8:30 AM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
There's an AMAZING story about Prince rocking up to a Jazz club, which I read here and later heard about on ABC TV, that I thought was awesome.
Turning up to a tiny jazz club for a set, just because.... I respected Prince as a song-writer, but on hearing that (and other stories about his last tour) I can't help but think he was an amazing person, because it seemed he was all about the music.
posted by Mezentian at 8:30 AM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
Cream Acoustic.
See him admonish the tuneless crowd while carrying them all the way to joy.
posted by petebest at 8:31 AM on April 22, 2016 [14 favorites]
See him admonish the tuneless crowd while carrying them all the way to joy.
posted by petebest at 8:31 AM on April 22, 2016 [14 favorites]
I'd call Prince an artist with a Gen X audience. As for which generation he belonged to, his birth year falls in that grey zone where he both is and isn't a Gen Xer or Baby Boomer.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:32 AM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:32 AM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
I feel like the biggest Gen X artist to die was Kurt Cobain.
That... is a fair point.
I didn't think of it, and no one mentioned it.
Prince kind of transcends generations,
My thinking is Prince was from the early Gen X (as music fans, so, assuming gen X is 1970ish and people got interested in music circa 10yo, Prince was perfectly aligned.
Michaal Jackson was mentioned as a similarly entrenched artist, but I felt he started too disco to be Gen X embedded.
It was just idle post-Friday work thoughts, mind.
posted by Mezentian at 8:34 AM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
That... is a fair point.
I didn't think of it, and no one mentioned it.
Prince kind of transcends generations,
My thinking is Prince was from the early Gen X (as music fans, so, assuming gen X is 1970ish and people got interested in music circa 10yo, Prince was perfectly aligned.
Michaal Jackson was mentioned as a similarly entrenched artist, but I felt he started too disco to be Gen X embedded.
It was just idle post-Friday work thoughts, mind.
posted by Mezentian at 8:34 AM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm late Gen-X, and Michael Jackson was much more prominent than Prince when my musical tastes were forming. Thriller hit at a formative time for me. Prince is a huge, early loss for Gen X, but I wouldn't say he's the first. But for me, he was interesting outside of his music in a way Michael Jackson wasn't.
posted by EvaDestruction at 8:49 AM on April 22, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by EvaDestruction at 8:49 AM on April 22, 2016 [3 favorites]
The song was "When Doves Cry" not "When Pigeonholes Attack". ;) The man transcended generations, genres, and genders.
posted by Celsius1414 at 8:52 AM on April 22, 2016 [19 favorites]
posted by Celsius1414 at 8:52 AM on April 22, 2016 [19 favorites]
The song was "When Doves Cry" not "When Pigeonholes Attack"
I bow to your superior turn of phrase.
posted by Mezentian at 9:05 AM on April 22, 2016 [3 favorites]
I bow to your superior turn of phrase.
posted by Mezentian at 9:05 AM on April 22, 2016 [3 favorites]
Meanwhile, on CNN: Wolf Blitzer has a Jeopardy! moment* while reporting on the death of Prince.
*Blitzer's original Jeopardy! moment
posted by Atom Eyes at 9:23 AM on April 22, 2016
*Blitzer's original Jeopardy! moment
posted by Atom Eyes at 9:23 AM on April 22, 2016
THERE ARE SO MANY SONGS I WISH I COULD LINK IN THIS THREAD THAT ARE NOT AVAILABLE ONLINE TO SHARE AND IT'S MAKING ME CRAZY
Everybody just name songs you think we should hear. Links come and go, but you can find just about anything with Google and that will probably still be true when people come back to this thread a year from now.
posted by straight at 9:33 AM on April 22, 2016 [9 favorites]
Everybody just name songs you think we should hear. Links come and go, but you can find just about anything with Google and that will probably still be true when people come back to this thread a year from now.
posted by straight at 9:33 AM on April 22, 2016 [9 favorites]
I couldn't post yesterday. I found out about this at work. I blasted his music all the way home, and cried so hard I almost pulled over a few times. Purple Rain was given to me by a German exchange student we had staying with us when I was a kid. Although I LOVED Prince, my mom thought that album inappropriate for 11 year old me. Fortunately Juliette had no such qualms, and when the wrapping paper shredded to reveal the purple, I remember I nearly shrieked with excitement. That album was my constant, then and throughout my life. No matter what I was into at any given time, Purple Rain had all the songs I never forwarded through or skipped over.
When I was a kid, some magazine had a "Win a date with Prince," contest. I desperately wanted to enter, but you had to be 18. I remember thinking how UNFAIR life was, because you shouldn't have to be 18 just to have dinner with someone. I also remember later reading about the woman who won, and her description of Prince as "quiet," and "charming," and a gentleman.
I have always loved Prince. As I got older, it fascinated me, how he could come off as so shy (which he was, apparently) and so polite, and then he could sing raunchily about fucking in a way that you KNEW he knew what he was talking about. Sexy, yes. Talented, of course. Brilliant, and maybe a little obsessive, and fun. The man kept Dunkaroos in his fridge, for gods sake. He unashamedly loved what he loved.
After I got home from work, crying all the way, I drove to my best friend's house, where I went in and just hugged her and cried some more. Her and I used to dance to Prince when my folks were gone, at my house, when we were 14 or so. We'd blast Kiss, shut all the drapes, start up my cheesy little strobe light, and just have a DANCE PARTY. Where no one could see us sweating and acting silly and laughing at each other and ourselves. She told me last night, "I always thought I should see him live. I always thought he'd be there." I did see him live, in San Diego, years ago. But once wasn't enough. A hundred times wouldn't have been enough.
posted by routergirl at 10:05 AM on April 22, 2016 [12 favorites]
When I was a kid, some magazine had a "Win a date with Prince," contest. I desperately wanted to enter, but you had to be 18. I remember thinking how UNFAIR life was, because you shouldn't have to be 18 just to have dinner with someone. I also remember later reading about the woman who won, and her description of Prince as "quiet," and "charming," and a gentleman.
I have always loved Prince. As I got older, it fascinated me, how he could come off as so shy (which he was, apparently) and so polite, and then he could sing raunchily about fucking in a way that you KNEW he knew what he was talking about. Sexy, yes. Talented, of course. Brilliant, and maybe a little obsessive, and fun. The man kept Dunkaroos in his fridge, for gods sake. He unashamedly loved what he loved.
After I got home from work, crying all the way, I drove to my best friend's house, where I went in and just hugged her and cried some more. Her and I used to dance to Prince when my folks were gone, at my house, when we were 14 or so. We'd blast Kiss, shut all the drapes, start up my cheesy little strobe light, and just have a DANCE PARTY. Where no one could see us sweating and acting silly and laughing at each other and ourselves. She told me last night, "I always thought I should see him live. I always thought he'd be there." I did see him live, in San Diego, years ago. But once wasn't enough. A hundred times wouldn't have been enough.
posted by routergirl at 10:05 AM on April 22, 2016 [12 favorites]
National treasure Charles Pierce: In Praise of Prince, the Shadowy Titan:
He was a great writer, a better performer, and the most direct lineal descendant not only of Hendrix, which is plainly obvious, but of Sly Stone as well. As was once written of Keith Moon, Prince didn't acknowledge any limits. He didn't hear them, so he didn't play them.posted by Gelatin at 10:07 AM on April 22, 2016 [4 favorites]
for filthy light thief -- Erotic City
and for everybody who wasn't cool enough, old enough, young enough, lucky enough to be there in 1988 ...
Erotic City + Housequake
Alphabet Street
Anna Stesia
from the Lovesexy tour, which remains (arguably) the best thing that ever happened anywhere at any time.
posted by philip-random at 10:08 AM on April 22, 2016 [5 favorites]
and for everybody who wasn't cool enough, old enough, young enough, lucky enough to be there in 1988 ...
Erotic City + Housequake
Alphabet Street
Anna Stesia
from the Lovesexy tour, which remains (arguably) the best thing that ever happened anywhere at any time.
posted by philip-random at 10:08 AM on April 22, 2016 [5 favorites]
I just came across this full-page Corvette ad while reading the morning paper.
posted by triggerfinger at 10:16 AM on April 22, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by triggerfinger at 10:16 AM on April 22, 2016 [6 favorites]
Housequake! When I saw him live he did Housequake and I remember *everyone* went nuts. It still blows my mind how absolutely prolific he was. If he had just done Sign o' the times, Purple Rain, and a few others, he still would have been huge. But he just never stopped. Never stopped doing, playing, creating.
posted by routergirl at 10:19 AM on April 22, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by routergirl at 10:19 AM on April 22, 2016 [3 favorites]
Head (Live, 1981)
I'll be in my bunk.
posted by Cookiebastard at 10:34 AM on April 22, 2016 [9 favorites]
I'll be in my bunk.
posted by Cookiebastard at 10:34 AM on April 22, 2016 [9 favorites]
Prince was a Gen X artist,
Prince was born in 1958 -- that makes him, like me, statistically a baby boomer. But a late one. So late that pretty much all the cliches do not apply. But thankfully, neither does all the Gen-X stuff. For which I thank the Lord God of demographics -- the privilige of living one's life without a brand stamped on your back.
posted by philip-random at 10:38 AM on April 22, 2016 [3 favorites]
Prince was born in 1958 -- that makes him, like me, statistically a baby boomer. But a late one. So late that pretty much all the cliches do not apply. But thankfully, neither does all the Gen-X stuff. For which I thank the Lord God of demographics -- the privilige of living one's life without a brand stamped on your back.
posted by philip-random at 10:38 AM on April 22, 2016 [3 favorites]
How Prince’s Life Redefined Black Manhood
posted by Cookiebastard at 10:48 AM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Cookiebastard at 10:48 AM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
.
posted by cotton dress sock at 10:52 AM on April 22, 2016
posted by cotton dress sock at 10:52 AM on April 22, 2016
re: The Current: How a Local Radio Station Became the World’s Prince Memorial
posted by rewil at 11:21 AM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by rewil at 11:21 AM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
That Time Prince Inspired a Mortal Kombat Character
posted by Etrigan at 11:21 AM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 11:21 AM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
Prince was damn sexy. In fifth grade right as I entered puberty I had two posters on my bedroom wall...Prince and Duran Duran. I'm now 43 and GODDAMN, I still love a man in eyeliner. (I have not read any studies but I think most people as adults twig out on the first things they found sexy.)
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 11:30 AM on April 22, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 11:30 AM on April 22, 2016 [7 favorites]
Late yesterday evening I drove around aimlessly for a little over an hour blaring Prince. When I got in my car three of the local stations were playing Prince. (I checked before starting my ipod.) Last night at home I reverted to listening some of the Prince proteges because listening to Prince's voice became too sad-making.
I'm seeing a showing of Purple Rain this weekend. One of my favorite childhood memories is my dad taking me, my stepsister, and my cousin to see Purple Rain in the theater. Fifth grade me loved it. 43 year old me loves that neither of my parents censored music or art.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 11:41 AM on April 22, 2016 [7 favorites]
I'm seeing a showing of Purple Rain this weekend. One of my favorite childhood memories is my dad taking me, my stepsister, and my cousin to see Purple Rain in the theater. Fifth grade me loved it. 43 year old me loves that neither of my parents censored music or art.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 11:41 AM on April 22, 2016 [7 favorites]
Remembering Prince's un-talked-about ways to make the world better, on CNN (Facebook video)
posted by jillithd at 11:42 AM on April 22, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by jillithd at 11:42 AM on April 22, 2016 [4 favorites]
Kieron Gillen on Prince's passing and using him as the model for one of the gods in the Wicked & the Divine:
"In short, I consider getting in touch with your Inner Prince to generally be a route to the best, bravest parts of you. Prince existing was like a dare - why not be like this?
The world is sadder for his passing. The world is so much greater for him ever being alive. "
posted by Kitteh at 11:54 AM on April 22, 2016 [7 favorites]
"In short, I consider getting in touch with your Inner Prince to generally be a route to the best, bravest parts of you. Prince existing was like a dare - why not be like this?
The world is sadder for his passing. The world is so much greater for him ever being alive. "
posted by Kitteh at 11:54 AM on April 22, 2016 [7 favorites]
Since nobody's mentioned it yet in this thread: one of my favorites, and one I think is wildly underappreciated: Anotherloverholenyohead
.
posted by mysterious_stranger at 12:18 PM on April 22, 2016 [4 favorites]
.
posted by mysterious_stranger at 12:18 PM on April 22, 2016 [4 favorites]
As am cycling through all my Prince albums, just like y'all, I'm reminded of the song Positivity off of Lovesexy. It's the best way I can consider sending him off.
Yes, Purple Rain is almost his signature, but the maudlin nature of it is too much for me at this point.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:34 PM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
Yes, Purple Rain is almost his signature, but the maudlin nature of it is too much for me at this point.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:34 PM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
Kiss blew 9 year old me's mind, and introduced me to feelings I didn't quite understand yet. It also got MTV banned in our house. Not that it stopped me; I'd sneak to the basement rec room and turn the tv on quietly.
.
posted by [insert clever name here] at 12:47 PM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
.
posted by [insert clever name here] at 12:47 PM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
Anyone want to post lists of great post 2000 or post 1990 Prince songs? There is so much material, I'd love to see 5 or 6 top 10s.
posted by msalt at 1:01 PM on April 22, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by msalt at 1:01 PM on April 22, 2016 [3 favorites]
The Carver County Sheriff doing the press conference right now on the investigation could not sound more Minnesotan if you paid him.
posted by Burn.Don't.Freeze at 1:05 PM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Burn.Don't.Freeze at 1:05 PM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
From the 90s, a few off top of head:
Cream
Blue Light
Sexy Motherfucker
7
The Most Beautiful Girl in the World
319
posted by FelliniBlank at 1:13 PM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
Cream
Blue Light
Sexy Motherfucker
7
The Most Beautiful Girl in the World
319
posted by FelliniBlank at 1:13 PM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
Oh, and by the way, if your parents owned copies of:
For You
Prince
Dirty Mind
Controversy
and 1999
they probably really liked fucking. Like a lot.
And good for them. I'm going to miss Prince so so much.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 1:23 PM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
For You
Prince
Dirty Mind
Controversy
and 1999
they probably really liked fucking. Like a lot.
And good for them. I'm going to miss Prince so so much.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 1:23 PM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
The Carver County Sheriff doing the press conference right now on the investigation could not sound more Minnesotan if you paid him.
I think he's doing a great job. Fargo, Drop Dead Gorgeous, etc. are not necessarily an exaggeration.
"Do you know if he was in day clothes or sleeping clothes?"
"He was in clothes. I can't say I know for sure at this point what he sleeps in vs. what he, uh, uh, may go out in"
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 1:29 PM on April 22, 2016 [16 favorites]
I think he's doing a great job. Fargo, Drop Dead Gorgeous, etc. are not necessarily an exaggeration.
"Do you know if he was in day clothes or sleeping clothes?"
"He was in clothes. I can't say I know for sure at this point what he sleeps in vs. what he, uh, uh, may go out in"
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 1:29 PM on April 22, 2016 [16 favorites]
The newly compiled Prince Jamz playlist includes:
Tick, Tick, Band
Thieves in the Temple
Kiss
Release It (not Prince singing, it's Morris Day, but it's from Graffiti Bridge, so totally counts)
Joy in Repetition
Gett Off
ALL of Sign O'the Times. Yes, every damn song. You're allowed to enjoy a few songs over the others, but you may not take a single song off that album.
Electric Chair, Scandalous and Lemon Crush off the Batman soundtrack. Not a great album of his, but even so so Prince album is better than most.
Lovesexy:
Anna Stesia
Dance on
When 2 R in Love
Positivity
Alphabet Street
ALL of Purple Rain. If you start to argue with me about this, you're dead to me.
1999:
1999
Little Red Corvette
Delicous
Lady Cab Driver
International Lover
The only Prince song I don't like is Diamonds and Pearls. Too sugary sweet for me and him. But that's ok, he's allowed a misstep or two. That whole album is pretty eh for me (except for Gett Off), but particular song is very NO MAN NO.
I'm sorry, what were we talking about?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:37 PM on April 22, 2016 [8 favorites]
Tick, Tick, Band
Thieves in the Temple
Kiss
Release It (not Prince singing, it's Morris Day, but it's from Graffiti Bridge, so totally counts)
Joy in Repetition
Gett Off
ALL of Sign O'the Times. Yes, every damn song. You're allowed to enjoy a few songs over the others, but you may not take a single song off that album.
Electric Chair, Scandalous and Lemon Crush off the Batman soundtrack. Not a great album of his, but even so so Prince album is better than most.
Lovesexy:
Anna Stesia
Dance on
When 2 R in Love
Positivity
Alphabet Street
ALL of Purple Rain. If you start to argue with me about this, you're dead to me.
1999:
1999
Little Red Corvette
Delicous
Lady Cab Driver
International Lover
The only Prince song I don't like is Diamonds and Pearls. Too sugary sweet for me and him. But that's ok, he's allowed a misstep or two. That whole album is pretty eh for me (except for Gett Off), but particular song is very NO MAN NO.
I'm sorry, what were we talking about?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:37 PM on April 22, 2016 [8 favorites]
He had the guitar talent of Hendrix. The dance moves of Brown. The showmanship of Jackson. What better trifecta of talent could one have?
I literally cried last night over the news. Purple Rain hit it big when I was in 7th grade. The times in my life back then were nothing but pain. Hearing the news that he was dead just hit me hard. It brought back so much. And so much I didn't want to feel. It also made me go "damn, I'm 44??? When did that happen?"
My 7 year old son saw me crying. I told him who Price was, showed him some YouTube performances and said he was a great talent. My son gave me a hug and said "I'm sorry your friend died."
It was pretty @#$# profound.
posted by stormpooper at 1:41 PM on April 22, 2016 [47 favorites]
I literally cried last night over the news. Purple Rain hit it big when I was in 7th grade. The times in my life back then were nothing but pain. Hearing the news that he was dead just hit me hard. It brought back so much. And so much I didn't want to feel. It also made me go "damn, I'm 44??? When did that happen?"
My 7 year old son saw me crying. I told him who Price was, showed him some YouTube performances and said he was a great talent. My son gave me a hug and said "I'm sorry your friend died."
It was pretty @#$# profound.
posted by stormpooper at 1:41 PM on April 22, 2016 [47 favorites]
The sheriff did do a great job, especially considering some of the batty questions. I just love the accent reminding the world that this amazing superstar is one of us Minnesotans. That's part of why this loss hits me so much more than anyone else. The man lived among us. Everyone has a Prince story. He lived here just like the rest of us.
posted by Burn.Don't.Freeze at 1:43 PM on April 22, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Burn.Don't.Freeze at 1:43 PM on April 22, 2016 [4 favorites]
Stormpooper, your son is awesome.
posted by DingoMutt at 1:43 PM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by DingoMutt at 1:43 PM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
Good Things To Read (And Watch) In Remembrance Of Prince
posted by the man of twists and turns at 1:44 PM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by the man of twists and turns at 1:44 PM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
> Prince's star is directly above Bob Mould's star.
Here's Bob Mould's comment on Prince.
"I never spoke with Prince. He always struck me as a private guy. Maybe he was shy around strangers. We never had much actual interaction – a couple nods in passing, but no real words were exchanged.
The Twin Cities of the 1980s was a very special time for all of us local musicians. There were the North Minneapolis R&B artists, the South Minneapolis guitar rock bands, and in the center of it all was First Avenue/7th Street Entry.
I've seen Prince perform sold out shows with The Revolution at First Ave, he and a rhythm section jamming as a guitar/bass/drums three piece in the Entry for 30 people, and was selfishly frustrated when he took over "the main room" for 25 days of filming Purple Rain.
I had the pleasure of spending seven days recording the basic tracks for my first solo album at Paisley Park in December 1988. It was the most professional studio I had ever seen at that point in my life. On the seventh day, I moved from the B room to Studio A, which was Prince's primary room. I remember seeing Sheila E's percussion in one of the isolation booths. The large control room was decorated with several of Prince's scarves. It certainly felt like Prince's home.
Prince was an artist through and through – always pushing himself to new levels, often creating controversy through his actions and words, and ultimately creating a lifetime of wonderful memories for the world with his incredible volumes of published (and unheard) works.
I heard the news while driving from Tomah WI to Minneapolis. I immediately flipped on The Current 89.3 FM to make sure what I was hearing was true. Sure enough, there was a live report from outside Paisley Park confirming the sad news of Prince's passing.
I'm two blocks from First Avenue as I write these words. Friday and Saturday nights, I will walk that same stage we all know from the movie. The exterior walls of First Avenue are covered with stars to honor the musicians who made an impact on music fans in Minnesota.
Make no mistake: Prince was the brightest star in these Northern skies. My deepest condolences to his family, friends, and fellow musicians. Prince's music will give consolation and comfort to the collective grief. Godspeed."
posted by gingerbeer at 1:54 PM on April 22, 2016 [20 favorites]
Here's Bob Mould's comment on Prince.
"I never spoke with Prince. He always struck me as a private guy. Maybe he was shy around strangers. We never had much actual interaction – a couple nods in passing, but no real words were exchanged.
The Twin Cities of the 1980s was a very special time for all of us local musicians. There were the North Minneapolis R&B artists, the South Minneapolis guitar rock bands, and in the center of it all was First Avenue/7th Street Entry.
I've seen Prince perform sold out shows with The Revolution at First Ave, he and a rhythm section jamming as a guitar/bass/drums three piece in the Entry for 30 people, and was selfishly frustrated when he took over "the main room" for 25 days of filming Purple Rain.
I had the pleasure of spending seven days recording the basic tracks for my first solo album at Paisley Park in December 1988. It was the most professional studio I had ever seen at that point in my life. On the seventh day, I moved from the B room to Studio A, which was Prince's primary room. I remember seeing Sheila E's percussion in one of the isolation booths. The large control room was decorated with several of Prince's scarves. It certainly felt like Prince's home.
Prince was an artist through and through – always pushing himself to new levels, often creating controversy through his actions and words, and ultimately creating a lifetime of wonderful memories for the world with his incredible volumes of published (and unheard) works.
I heard the news while driving from Tomah WI to Minneapolis. I immediately flipped on The Current 89.3 FM to make sure what I was hearing was true. Sure enough, there was a live report from outside Paisley Park confirming the sad news of Prince's passing.
I'm two blocks from First Avenue as I write these words. Friday and Saturday nights, I will walk that same stage we all know from the movie. The exterior walls of First Avenue are covered with stars to honor the musicians who made an impact on music fans in Minnesota.
Make no mistake: Prince was the brightest star in these Northern skies. My deepest condolences to his family, friends, and fellow musicians. Prince's music will give consolation and comfort to the collective grief. Godspeed."
posted by gingerbeer at 1:54 PM on April 22, 2016 [20 favorites]
"I can't think of anyone better": Paul Westerberg remembers Prince.
posted by pxe2000 at 1:58 PM on April 22, 2016 [20 favorites]
posted by pxe2000 at 1:58 PM on April 22, 2016 [20 favorites]
Ha! From that Paul Westerberg piece:
and I said, "Hey, what's up?" And he answered, "Life."
A view of the world to aspire to.
posted by jillithd at 2:04 PM on April 22, 2016 [3 favorites]
and I said, "Hey, what's up?" And he answered, "Life."
A view of the world to aspire to.
posted by jillithd at 2:04 PM on April 22, 2016 [3 favorites]
Oh, that Westerberg remembrance is just the best thing. So regular and sweet.
posted by FelliniBlank at 2:13 PM on April 22, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by FelliniBlank at 2:13 PM on April 22, 2016 [3 favorites]
Prince was so prolific and so secretive that most people don't know that he wrote 3 seasons of hit 90s TV show Coach.
posted by Senor Cardgage at 2:17 PM on April 22, 2016 [13 favorites]
posted by Senor Cardgage at 2:17 PM on April 22, 2016 [13 favorites]
Wait, WHAT Senor Cardgage? I don't see him in the credited writers section on IMDB.
posted by jillithd at 2:20 PM on April 22, 2016
posted by jillithd at 2:20 PM on April 22, 2016
Oh yeah. That was a lie. Sorry.
posted by Senor Cardgage at 2:22 PM on April 22, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by Senor Cardgage at 2:22 PM on April 22, 2016 [7 favorites]
Juuuuuust kidding in light of us all discovering what other stuff he'd done over the years. But it's very telling that it felt like it was within the realm of possibility though no?
posted by Senor Cardgage at 2:23 PM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Senor Cardgage at 2:23 PM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
Not a lie: Prince was a huge fan of the Zooey Deschanel sitcom New Girl; when he guest starred on a post-Super Bowl episode, it was because he directly asked to appear. He even pitched the concept that became that episode's plot, and impressed the writers with how much he knew about the show in the process.
And per that article, he was even a shipper -- part of the reason he pitched the episode he did was so he could play a direct role starting the relationship between Deschanel's character and one of the other leads, Nick (Jake Johnson).
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 2:25 PM on April 22, 2016 [22 favorites]
And per that article, he was even a shipper -- part of the reason he pitched the episode he did was so he could play a direct role starting the relationship between Deschanel's character and one of the other leads, Nick (Jake Johnson).
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 2:25 PM on April 22, 2016 [22 favorites]
I pulled up next to two pretty hard looking probably gang guys in South SJC last night. I had Erotic City playing loud with the windows down. They gave me a little nod.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 3:03 PM on April 22, 2016
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 3:03 PM on April 22, 2016
I feel like Dolphin is a really underappreciated track from the 90s. At his last Toronto show he played Dolphin into Bowie's Heroes.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 3:35 PM on April 22, 2016
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 3:35 PM on April 22, 2016
Purple Rain is coming back to theaters from April 22 - 27.
posted by mogget at 3:38 PM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by mogget at 3:38 PM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
He had the guitar talent of Hendrix. The dance moves of Brown. The showmanship of Jackson. What better trifecta of talent could one have?
and the songwriting chops of Lennon and McCartney and half of the Brill building as well.
posted by philip-random at 3:53 PM on April 22, 2016 [8 favorites]
and the songwriting chops of Lennon and McCartney and half of the Brill building as well.
posted by philip-random at 3:53 PM on April 22, 2016 [8 favorites]
He had the guitar talent of Hendrix. The dance moves of Brown.
Abso-fuckin-lutely. I saw him live, dueting guitar with Carlos Santana. And then later he played every instrument on stage and wailed on all of them. And he didn't just walk over to the instruments, he twirled, did the splits, high kicks and all the rest of it.
I think he is a case of a very talented person who literally worked themselves to death; people have been conjecturing about how it could've happened but I think given his insane level of abilities, he just worked all the fucking time. He didn't give himself enough time to recover from a nasty flu, which used to kill people all the time. Apparently, after the emergency landing, he made an appearance the next day. Just a nonstop funk machine till the day he died.
posted by GospelofWesleyWillis at 4:16 PM on April 22, 2016 [3 favorites]
Abso-fuckin-lutely. I saw him live, dueting guitar with Carlos Santana. And then later he played every instrument on stage and wailed on all of them. And he didn't just walk over to the instruments, he twirled, did the splits, high kicks and all the rest of it.
I think he is a case of a very talented person who literally worked themselves to death; people have been conjecturing about how it could've happened but I think given his insane level of abilities, he just worked all the fucking time. He didn't give himself enough time to recover from a nasty flu, which used to kill people all the time. Apparently, after the emergency landing, he made an appearance the next day. Just a nonstop funk machine till the day he died.
posted by GospelofWesleyWillis at 4:16 PM on April 22, 2016 [3 favorites]
Haven't posted until now, because I wanted a day to pretend this wasn't true.
Were it up to me, the blue would be turned purple on this page.
RIP you crazy amazing genius, you.
posted by .kobayashi. at 4:32 PM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
Were it up to me, the blue would be turned purple on this page.
RIP you crazy amazing genius, you.
posted by .kobayashi. at 4:32 PM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
‘Purple Rain’ Returning to U.S. Theaters This Weekend
Also in Austin at Alamo Drafthouse
posted by bradf at 4:56 PM on April 22, 2016
Also in Austin at Alamo Drafthouse
posted by bradf at 4:56 PM on April 22, 2016
6 CDs Prince bought on his last trip to the Electric
The Electric Fetus is an iconic Minneapolis record store. Prince visited on Saturday for record store day.
posted by Alluring Mouthbreather at 5:32 PM on April 22, 2016
The Electric Fetus is an iconic Minneapolis record store. Prince visited on Saturday for record store day.
posted by Alluring Mouthbreather at 5:32 PM on April 22, 2016
I saw him live outdoors in Minneapolis during the late 90s at the now-defunct Mill City Music Festival. (Morris Day and the Time also played and I caught part of that show which was pretty great.) This was during his symbol period. Part way through, he addressed the crowd as "Hometown" and told us that he was going back in time and was Prince again. He then played some of most popular songs from the 80s. Best concert I've ever seen. He was playing with Larry Graham and Graham's band.
posted by Alluring Mouthbreather at 5:40 PM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Alluring Mouthbreather at 5:40 PM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
Many years ago, there was a local dance show called Dancin' On Air, which mutated into a cable version called Dance Party USA on, naturally enough, the USA Network. This show featured young people showing off their dance moves to the music of the day, very American Bandstand for the late 80s/early 90s, and I have the proud distinction of never having been on it. But I digress.
Someone who WAS on it, however, was a young woman who went by the name Princess. She was a diehard fan of the purple one, modeled many of her accessories and outfits after his distinctive style, and had a crystal tear under one eye that she swore she'd never remove until she met him one day.
She was in my homeroom all through high school, was perfectly pleasant and normal outside of her musical obsession, and the crystal tear stayed put even in gym class.
This has been BRUSH... WITH GREATNESS.
posted by delfin at 6:57 PM on April 22, 2016 [9 favorites]
Someone who WAS on it, however, was a young woman who went by the name Princess. She was a diehard fan of the purple one, modeled many of her accessories and outfits after his distinctive style, and had a crystal tear under one eye that she swore she'd never remove until she met him one day.
She was in my homeroom all through high school, was perfectly pleasant and normal outside of her musical obsession, and the crystal tear stayed put even in gym class.
This has been BRUSH... WITH GREATNESS.
posted by delfin at 6:57 PM on April 22, 2016 [9 favorites]
Both Dateline and 20/20 are airing specials on Prince tonite if anyone is interested. I may watch at another time. No more tears are wanted tonite for me.
posted by futz at 7:03 PM on April 22, 2016
posted by futz at 7:03 PM on April 22, 2016
.
posted by greermahoney at 7:22 PM on April 22, 2016
posted by greermahoney at 7:22 PM on April 22, 2016
"He said the sea would one day overflow with all your tears."
I'm surprised they didn't yesterday.
posted by greermahoney at 7:32 PM on April 22, 2016
I'm surprised they didn't yesterday.
posted by greermahoney at 7:32 PM on April 22, 2016
Just Another Sucker, a song Prince wrote for 94 East, the band he was in right before his career took off.
"This Sunday, April 24, the Minneapolis City Hall tower bells will play Prince songs in tribute to the Minneapolis music legend."
The city that Prince helped shape is grieving, but glowing purple and dancing its ass off. Take that, 2016, you asshole.
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 7:34 PM on April 22, 2016 [12 favorites]
"This Sunday, April 24, the Minneapolis City Hall tower bells will play Prince songs in tribute to the Minneapolis music legend."
The city that Prince helped shape is grieving, but glowing purple and dancing its ass off. Take that, 2016, you asshole.
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 7:34 PM on April 22, 2016 [12 favorites]
A friend told me a sweet story about how her 70 something Mom called her to tell her this news yesterday. When my friend was in junior high she put up that poster of Prince that still makes me blush and came with his Controversy album, in her room. Her Mom confiscated it. So 30 years later her Mom called her now 40 something daughter to let her know Prince had died because she remember how much her daughter loved him. I just thought this was so sweet. Moms and daughters and Prince and posters that made you think of things. I'm sad he passed at such a young age. But happy his life was so full of art and music and love. And he encouraged that in everyone. What a life he lived.
posted by dog food sugar at 8:06 PM on April 22, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by dog food sugar at 8:06 PM on April 22, 2016 [10 favorites]
I'm sorry to be a killjoy, but does anyone know if Prince ever shifted/changed/clarified his position against gay marriage?
posted by divabat at 8:18 PM on April 22, 2016
posted by divabat at 8:18 PM on April 22, 2016
I'm sorry to be a killjoy, but does anyone know if Prince ever shifted/changed/clarified his position against gay marriage?
Googling "prince gay marriage" reveals this article as fifth link on the first page: Prince Irate After Allegations He's Anti-Gay Marriage
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:26 PM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
Googling "prince gay marriage" reveals this article as fifth link on the first page: Prince Irate After Allegations He's Anti-Gay Marriage
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:26 PM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
I had my first real kiss at a high school dance while "I Would Die 4 U" was playing.
I had never though him sexy because I couldn't get over that pencil mustache (facial hair, ugh), but I spent most of today watching his live videos and.... Oh my. Sexy personified. Like Platomic ideal sexy.
posted by bendy at 8:48 PM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
I had never though him sexy because I couldn't get over that pencil mustache (facial hair, ugh), but I spent most of today watching his live videos and.... Oh my. Sexy personified. Like Platomic ideal sexy.
posted by bendy at 8:48 PM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
I saw Prince open for the Rolling Stones in 1981 and then say FUCK IT. This was a festival-seating gig for IIRC $16 at the L.A. Coliseum. Me and a bunch of teenage punk friends went. Mostly to see Prince. We did the established thing of getting there the night before in order to score space near the front of the stage.
We looked very different from the rest of the crowd spread out on the lawn. When Prince started, we leapt up, while the concertgoers around us reacted VERY badly. To Prince, and to us. Prince wore a duster and chaps and after a few songs that elicited very vocal opposition he flashed his ass at the huge audience. My friends and I LOVED this and went kinda crazy, while the people around us did not like it at all. We were menaced. Eventually, one of us - the only one there primarily to see the Stones - got beat up.
Prince would have been something like 23 years old then.
Bill Graham came out on stage and hollered at the audience because someone had thrown a bottle at the stage. He was very scary. Prince exited after three songs, an ass flash, and a revolution. The audience then was treated to the song stylings of J Geils and George Thorogood, and, eventually, the Rolling Stones.
Prince ruled.
posted by goofyfoot at 8:51 PM on April 22, 2016 [7 favorites]
We looked very different from the rest of the crowd spread out on the lawn. When Prince started, we leapt up, while the concertgoers around us reacted VERY badly. To Prince, and to us. Prince wore a duster and chaps and after a few songs that elicited very vocal opposition he flashed his ass at the huge audience. My friends and I LOVED this and went kinda crazy, while the people around us did not like it at all. We were menaced. Eventually, one of us - the only one there primarily to see the Stones - got beat up.
Prince would have been something like 23 years old then.
Bill Graham came out on stage and hollered at the audience because someone had thrown a bottle at the stage. He was very scary. Prince exited after three songs, an ass flash, and a revolution. The audience then was treated to the song stylings of J Geils and George Thorogood, and, eventually, the Rolling Stones.
Prince ruled.
posted by goofyfoot at 8:51 PM on April 22, 2016 [7 favorites]
Prince in Osaka, Japan, 1990. It's a brilliant FaceBook video by Steve Purcell, who worked with Prince for six years.
posted by nickyskye at 8:53 PM on April 22, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by nickyskye at 8:53 PM on April 22, 2016 [9 favorites]
“Why There Will Never Be Another Prince,” Bomani Jones, Playboy, 21 April 2016
posted by ob1quixote at 9:17 PM on April 22, 2016
posted by ob1quixote at 9:17 PM on April 22, 2016
Paul Westerberg's beautiful piece contained this paragraph, which I assume is just bad copy-editing of this spoken remembrance. But Prince being Prince, I wasn't sure at first if it was literal.
"He became comfortable enough to grace us with his presence, not bejeweled and not dressed up. He'd be wearing maybe his jammies and sweat pants or maybe a pear of jeans and sneakers. He could sort of just hang out."posted by msalt at 9:23 PM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
I don't think we've seen enough video evidence of how sexy he was.
posted by vverse23 at 9:26 PM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by vverse23 at 9:26 PM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
Given how hard it is to find Prince's stuff on streaming services and YouTube, I was very surprised to hear from a colleague in the library I work at that Hoopla, a streaming service focused on serving public libraries, have a big library of Prince's music available.
If your local library subscribes to Hoopla, you should be able to access this as well.
posted by Jaybo at 9:31 PM on April 22, 2016 [10 favorites]
If your local library subscribes to Hoopla, you should be able to access this as well.
posted by Jaybo at 9:31 PM on April 22, 2016 [10 favorites]
Platonic of course... I'll be in my bunk.
posted by bendy at 9:50 PM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by bendy at 9:50 PM on April 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
Black Lives Matter's tribute to Prince.
posted by gingerbeer at 9:58 PM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by gingerbeer at 9:58 PM on April 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
At Jazz Fest 2016, Janelle Monae gives fierce Prince tribute: 'I am because he was'
posted by rtha at 11:00 PM on April 22, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by rtha at 11:00 PM on April 22, 2016 [6 favorites]
Purple Rain is play at the Times cinema in Milwaukee 4/26-4/28
posted by [insert clever name here] at 12:03 AM on April 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by [insert clever name here] at 12:03 AM on April 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
Unable to relax and flipping channels and I found that BET Jams is marathoning Prince videos if anybody has that channel. Prince had some really, really awesome designed instruments. Some of these guitars are fucking works of art.
posted by weretable and the undead chairs at 1:27 AM on April 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by weretable and the undead chairs at 1:27 AM on April 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
A Facebook friend just posted a video of the free dance party at First Avenue. It looks great. I wish I was there now. The wife and I were trying to figure out if we knew anyone who'd watch our kids from 1am to 5am so we can go dancing in the middle of the night. I haven't been to First Ave in many years (I think Kula Shaker and Imperial Teen were the last two shows I saw there), but it feels like we should be dancing there now. I don't usually mourn celebrities this way.
posted by Alluring Mouthbreather at 1:50 AM on April 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Alluring Mouthbreather at 1:50 AM on April 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
Rage on ABC TV has promised a night of devotion to Prince, not tonight but next Saturday, April 30th. Which was disappointing until I learned tonight's guest programmer is Noel Fielding. Which fills me with gleeful joyful anticipation, and hope - a hope that I remember to turn the TV on later tonight.
But back to Prince. So much to admire, enjoy, dance like fuck to and swoon over/under/into/with. "Solo" on the Come album is a treasured favourite. Because the sound, the sound pierces me to the core. The aching beauty in that silver voice, how it swoops and glides in the dark silence like some exquisite swimming silken thread of light. Dammit I want to hear it again now, it's been years, but I don't have anything will play a cassette, can no find online. Sigh.
In the late '80s I lived in a household where we could only bring ourselves to do the cleaning if we put on some very loud Prince. Who knows what degradation we might have sunk to without him to help with the housework.
posted by valetta at 2:31 AM on April 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
But back to Prince. So much to admire, enjoy, dance like fuck to and swoon over/under/into/with. "Solo" on the Come album is a treasured favourite. Because the sound, the sound pierces me to the core. The aching beauty in that silver voice, how it swoops and glides in the dark silence like some exquisite swimming silken thread of light. Dammit I want to hear it again now, it's been years, but I don't have anything will play a cassette, can no find online. Sigh.
In the late '80s I lived in a household where we could only bring ourselves to do the cleaning if we put on some very loud Prince. Who knows what degradation we might have sunk to without him to help with the housework.
posted by valetta at 2:31 AM on April 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
Also, many thanks to nickyskye for that Prince in Osaka link. Not what I was expecting, nice surprise.
posted by valetta at 3:26 AM on April 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by valetta at 3:26 AM on April 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm heartbroken. Australian radio station Double J is playing Prince and associated acts all weekend. Already I've heard a couple of fantastic songs for the first time, some disco, some swampy. Plus all the usual suspects.
posted by harriet vane at 4:01 AM on April 23, 2016
posted by harriet vane at 4:01 AM on April 23, 2016
“CNN Tonight With Don Lemon Van Jones on Prince's humanitarianism”—Daily Kos, 22 April 2016
posted by ob1quixote at 5:59 AM on April 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by ob1quixote at 5:59 AM on April 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
ob1quixote: ““Eyes on Prince's Twitter avatar close following news of his death,” Jordan Bassett, NME, 21 April 2016”Apparently NME has retracted this story, but instead of updating the existing link, they just deleted it. The new story is “Did Prince's Twitter Account Foreshadow His Death?” Spoiler Alert: Betteridge's law of headlines applies. After I posted the first link, I saw on the local news that the "eyes closed" version of the icon was used as a backdrop during the Fox Theater show. and photos seem to confirm this.
posted by ob1quixote at 6:51 AM on April 23, 2016
“Bowie, Prince and a note to (baffled?) Millennials,” A.J. Hartley, 21 April 2016
posted by ob1quixote at 6:57 AM on April 23, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by ob1quixote at 6:57 AM on April 23, 2016 [4 favorites]
OMG at 2:13 of this YouTube video of Prince on Muppets Tonight, Prince does Hee Haw. Keep watching for Starfish and Coffeee.
posted by Dr. Zira at 9:23 AM on April 23, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Dr. Zira at 9:23 AM on April 23, 2016 [4 favorites]
Purple Rain is play at the Times cinema in Milwaukee 4/26-4/28
Wow, thanks for the heads up. I created a meetup.
posted by AFABulous at 9:23 AM on April 23, 2016
Wow, thanks for the heads up. I created a meetup.
posted by AFABulous at 9:23 AM on April 23, 2016
I have been reading this thread for a couple of days, but have been absolutely bereft about Prince's passing. I've got a draft of a tribute for my blog, but I just can't seem to finish it without picking up my guitar and unsuccessfully holding back the tears while I pick through the intro to Purple Rain.
The thing with Prince wasn't just that he was a great musician, but he showed all of us weird kids in the middle of nowhere that it was okay to be entirely different, even if the whole world was screaming at us to be more like the football players or the cowboys. To see someone that brave and that overt come out on the stage in high-heeled boots, costumes that would get me beaten up and stuffed in a locker, and not be a clown but absolutely OWN the world around him opened for me the possibility to redraw the box around you to suit yourself.
From his example, I have tried over the years to focus more on my own music and be brave enough to put it out there. If I sat in front of Prince and told him I was a musician, what would happen if he said, "Let's hear it, brother"? My challenge is that I wouldn't have anything I'm proud of to show this giant.
I'm pretty sure if he could read this comment, he'd probably tell me that the notebook where I've been writing bits of lyrics and chord progressions for the last 48 hours is a good start. Get a fresh pack of strings on that guitar and keep working.
Note to self: The first line of Purple Rain doesn't go:
"I never meant to cause you any <sob>..."
posted by phoebus at 10:49 AM on April 23, 2016 [12 favorites]
The thing with Prince wasn't just that he was a great musician, but he showed all of us weird kids in the middle of nowhere that it was okay to be entirely different, even if the whole world was screaming at us to be more like the football players or the cowboys. To see someone that brave and that overt come out on the stage in high-heeled boots, costumes that would get me beaten up and stuffed in a locker, and not be a clown but absolutely OWN the world around him opened for me the possibility to redraw the box around you to suit yourself.
From his example, I have tried over the years to focus more on my own music and be brave enough to put it out there. If I sat in front of Prince and told him I was a musician, what would happen if he said, "Let's hear it, brother"? My challenge is that I wouldn't have anything I'm proud of to show this giant.
I'm pretty sure if he could read this comment, he'd probably tell me that the notebook where I've been writing bits of lyrics and chord progressions for the last 48 hours is a good start. Get a fresh pack of strings on that guitar and keep working.
Note to self: The first line of Purple Rain doesn't go:
"I never meant to cause you any <sob>..."
posted by phoebus at 10:49 AM on April 23, 2016 [12 favorites]
"A Prince approved playlist."
I've just used that list (from Prince's New Girl episode) to make a Spotify playlist. It is, I need hardly add, funky as fuck.
posted by Paul Slade at 11:39 AM on April 23, 2016 [10 favorites]
I've just used that list (from Prince's New Girl episode) to make a Spotify playlist. It is, I need hardly add, funky as fuck.
posted by Paul Slade at 11:39 AM on April 23, 2016 [10 favorites]
For those of you in the US with televisions and broadcast access, SNL tonight is going to run a special show on Prince tonight (4.23), should be worth watching.
posted by dbiedny at 12:39 PM on April 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by dbiedny at 12:39 PM on April 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
He had the guitar talent of Hendrix. The dance moves of Brown. The showmanship of Jackson. What better trifecta of talent could one have?
and the songwriting chops of Lennon and McCartney and half of the Brill building as well.
And the pipes of Mercury.
posted by chris24 at 12:51 PM on April 23, 2016 [6 favorites]
and the songwriting chops of Lennon and McCartney and half of the Brill building as well.
And the pipes of Mercury.
posted by chris24 at 12:51 PM on April 23, 2016 [6 favorites]
Here's the entirety of Prince's 2008 Coachella performance, which includes his covers of Creep and Sarah McLachlan's Angel.
posted by yasaman at 2:35 PM on April 23, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by yasaman at 2:35 PM on April 23, 2016 [9 favorites]
I'm starting to realize one can never really create a definitive playlist of Prince songs, there's always something to be added or moved around. At best, you can make a Prince playlist for a specific mood.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:06 PM on April 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:06 PM on April 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
Sarah McLachlan's Angel
...which is about Jonathan Melvoin, brother of Wendy Melvoin of The Revolution and Wendy & Lisa.
posted by Sys Rq at 4:00 PM on April 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
...which is about Jonathan Melvoin, brother of Wendy Melvoin of The Revolution and Wendy & Lisa.
posted by Sys Rq at 4:00 PM on April 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
Bruce Springsteen opened with "Purple Rain" tonight.
posted by rhizome at 6:07 PM on April 23, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by rhizome at 6:07 PM on April 23, 2016 [6 favorites]
Sign O' the Times: Play In the Sunshine has a section near the end where Zappa meets James Brown and Hendrix walks in and says, "Can I get somma that?!" before tearing it up. Then The Mothership lands. But it's all Prince.
Somewhere around there he pulls Revolver-era harmonies into a lyric, "when you smile" (the only reference I could find was "Hey Bulldog" but that doesn't sound right). And it's true that the album is Merely the most gifted pop musician of his generation proving what a motherfucker he is for two discs start to finish.
Like a lot of artists with time and money and talent, he can make a great record. Unlike a lot of artists he can make one of the greatest records. But to top it off he can bring it live, and hardly anyone can do that. Not at that level. The Stones can play Only Rock 'n Roll both into a tape recorder and into an amp, but Prince created amazing sonic structures into a tape recorder and then hired the best and worked them haaaaarrrd to get it through the amps too. That is exponential leveling up. I don't know anyone who can do that now.
posted by petebest at 7:47 PM on April 23, 2016 [7 favorites]
Somewhere around there he pulls Revolver-era harmonies into a lyric, "when you smile" (the only reference I could find was "Hey Bulldog" but that doesn't sound right). And it's true that the album is Merely the most gifted pop musician of his generation proving what a motherfucker he is for two discs start to finish.
Like a lot of artists with time and money and talent, he can make a great record. Unlike a lot of artists he can make one of the greatest records. But to top it off he can bring it live, and hardly anyone can do that. Not at that level. The Stones can play Only Rock 'n Roll both into a tape recorder and into an amp, but Prince created amazing sonic structures into a tape recorder and then hired the best and worked them haaaaarrrd to get it through the amps too. That is exponential leveling up. I don't know anyone who can do that now.
posted by petebest at 7:47 PM on April 23, 2016 [7 favorites]
Bob Mould & the Suicide Commandos cover When U Were Mine
posted by pxe2000 at 7:48 PM on April 23, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by pxe2000 at 7:48 PM on April 23, 2016 [3 favorites]
There's a purple house over yonder ...
Prince - "Blues Medley" (featuring Maceo Parker & Johnny Blackshire)
posted by valetta at 8:12 PM on April 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
Prince - "Blues Medley" (featuring Maceo Parker & Johnny Blackshire)
posted by valetta at 8:12 PM on April 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
There have been years where icons and heroes die in threes, periodically. But from Mid December 2015 onwards, it's just been an onslaught of our heroes and icons passing away -- many, like Prince, way too early. I had never been a BIG FAN of Prince, but I loved him when I was a teenager in the 80's, and I've respected him ever since as one of the greatest lead guitarists and general songwriters ever, up there with Frank Zappa (who also died too early) in terms of output, intelligence, variety, influence.
And he would write these megahits for others, too, on a regular basis in the eighties, sometimes under assumed names, and under the radar, while also maintaining a very commanding presence in pop culture for so long. Power Generation? TAFKA Prince/Love Symbol? His comeback? That lead guitar on the "WHile My Guitar Gently Weeps" tribute? All the while in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Where? Yeah, Minneapolis! Really? Yeah! Wow, Minneapolis must be cool. I'd like to visit sometime! Especially given that Prince's contemporaries from that city have included Husker Du, Garrison Keillor, and Senator Al Franken...
But the 80's were not the Al Franken Decade. They were the Prince Decade. His stamp is all over the glorious, purple eighties. What a legacy. And holy shit, man, I'll miss him way more than I ever thought I would have. I feel like I took his later works (and Bowie's too) for granted.
Anyway, LET'S GO CRAZY!
posted by not_on_display at 8:44 PM on April 23, 2016 [4 favorites]
And he would write these megahits for others, too, on a regular basis in the eighties, sometimes under assumed names, and under the radar, while also maintaining a very commanding presence in pop culture for so long. Power Generation? TAFKA Prince/Love Symbol? His comeback? That lead guitar on the "WHile My Guitar Gently Weeps" tribute? All the while in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Where? Yeah, Minneapolis! Really? Yeah! Wow, Minneapolis must be cool. I'd like to visit sometime! Especially given that Prince's contemporaries from that city have included Husker Du, Garrison Keillor, and Senator Al Franken...
But the 80's were not the Al Franken Decade. They were the Prince Decade. His stamp is all over the glorious, purple eighties. What a legacy. And holy shit, man, I'll miss him way more than I ever thought I would have. I feel like I took his later works (and Bowie's too) for granted.
Anyway, LET'S GO CRAZY!
posted by not_on_display at 8:44 PM on April 23, 2016 [4 favorites]
TURN ON THE SNL TRIBUTE RIGHT NOW.
They're showing a clip from the SNL 40th anniversary afterparty, and Prince is playing a FUNKED OUT version of "Let's Go Crazy."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:21 PM on April 23, 2016 [5 favorites]
They're showing a clip from the SNL 40th anniversary afterparty, and Prince is playing a FUNKED OUT version of "Let's Go Crazy."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:21 PM on April 23, 2016 [5 favorites]
What they're showing (my flipout above) - this looks like someone's cameraphone, and in his intro, Jimmy said it was probably about 4:30 am at the afterparty they had, and it was at some hotel and Lorne had just set up a bunch of instruments so that people could jam. So they brought Prince up and OH MY GOD.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:24 PM on April 23, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:24 PM on April 23, 2016 [3 favorites]
Watched. Awed.
posted by pandalicious at 9:39 PM on April 23, 2016
posted by pandalicious at 9:39 PM on April 23, 2016
The SNL clip, apparently recorded by Tim Kazurinsky.
posted by Joey Michaels at 10:21 PM on April 23, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 10:21 PM on April 23, 2016 [6 favorites]
Why are they following that with these Fred Armisen sketches? Talk about a letdown.
posted by rewil at 10:54 PM on April 23, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by rewil at 10:54 PM on April 23, 2016 [3 favorites]
That pathetic Prince-and-Beyonce-host-a-talk-show sketch is not how you close out a tribute. That party footage, THAT is your closer.
Then again, it's SNL. They've got decades of burying the weakest stuff right before signing off.
I like how at the afterparty, Prince's guitar went crowdsurfing, not him.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 12:38 AM on April 24, 2016 [3 favorites]
Then again, it's SNL. They've got decades of burying the weakest stuff right before signing off.
I like how at the afterparty, Prince's guitar went crowdsurfing, not him.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 12:38 AM on April 24, 2016 [3 favorites]
Jimmy's setup for that was pretty rough. I loved Martin Short's reaction at the party though, just utter disbelief.
posted by rhizome at 1:03 AM on April 24, 2016
posted by rhizome at 1:03 AM on April 24, 2016
The SNL clip, apparently recorded by Tim Kazurinsky.
Didn't he know Prince's stance on filiming?
(I, for one, am glad he didn't or didn't care, since the joy in that video is more joy than I have ever known in my life).
posted by Mezentian at 1:56 AM on April 24, 2016 [3 favorites]
Didn't he know Prince's stance on filiming?
(I, for one, am glad he didn't or didn't care, since the joy in that video is more joy than I have ever known in my life).
posted by Mezentian at 1:56 AM on April 24, 2016 [3 favorites]
From the looks of the video, Kazurinsky wasn't the only one filming.
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:55 AM on April 24, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:55 AM on April 24, 2016 [2 favorites]
Is that Jeanane going crazy?
Admittedly, I watched Fallon's video first, and I find him insufferable, and his name-dropping was painful, and yet, it was the perfect intro to that song, and I lament never having been to a party that awesome*.
And, who was the musician with the shaved undercut?
I'm not sure why Palpetine is on stage, but I suspect my lack of SNL knowledge is hurting me.
And, was that Cuba Gooding Jr or Xhibit?
posted by Mezentian at 3:11 AM on April 24, 2016
Admittedly, I watched Fallon's video first, and I find him insufferable, and his name-dropping was painful, and yet, it was the perfect intro to that song, and I lament never having been to a party that awesome*.
And, who was the musician with the shaved undercut?
I'm not sure why Palpetine is on stage, but I suspect my lack of SNL knowledge is hurting me.
And, was that Cuba Gooding Jr or Xhibit?
posted by Mezentian at 3:11 AM on April 24, 2016
And, who was the musician with the shaved undercut?
The guitarist? Donna Grantis, she's been in all his bands since he found her on YouTube a few years ago.
posted by effbot at 4:15 AM on April 24, 2016 [3 favorites]
The guitarist? Donna Grantis, she's been in all his bands since he found her on YouTube a few years ago.
posted by effbot at 4:15 AM on April 24, 2016 [3 favorites]
The guitarist? Donna Grantis, she's been in all his bands since he found her on YouTube a few years ago.
1. She is awesome. I love her hair.
2. Thanks.
3. I really like her hair.
4. I have told everyone.
posted by Mezentian at 5:44 AM on April 24, 2016 [4 favorites]
1. She is awesome. I love her hair.
2. Thanks.
3. I really like her hair.
4. I have told everyone.
posted by Mezentian at 5:44 AM on April 24, 2016 [4 favorites]
The SNL clip, apparently recorded by Tim Kazurinsky.
This is (obviously) the same performance, but not the same clip. This is from a much different angle.
posted by anastasiav at 6:12 AM on April 24, 2016
This is (obviously) the same performance, but not the same clip. This is from a much different angle.
posted by anastasiav at 6:12 AM on April 24, 2016
Donna Grantis, she's been in all his bands since he found her on YouTube a few years ago.
Actually, the way it went was: he found bassist Ida Nielson on Myspace six years ago, and she started playing in New Power Generation; he then found drummer Hannah "Ford" Welton on YouTube, and asked her and her husband to find a guitarist in 2012. They found Donna - who'd by then published an album as The Donna Grantis Electric Band - and the rest is (their brief) history together, both as NPG and 3rdEyeGirl.
posted by progosk at 6:20 AM on April 24, 2016 [3 favorites]
Actually, the way it went was: he found bassist Ida Nielson on Myspace six years ago, and she started playing in New Power Generation; he then found drummer Hannah "Ford" Welton on YouTube, and asked her and her husband to find a guitarist in 2012. They found Donna - who'd by then published an album as The Donna Grantis Electric Band - and the rest is (their brief) history together, both as NPG and 3rdEyeGirl.
posted by progosk at 6:20 AM on April 24, 2016 [3 favorites]
Actually
Yeah, that was the simplified "I'm on mobile" version. And yeah, Grantis is seriously badass (as are the other members of 3rdeyegirl -- Prince was a brilliant bandleader).
posted by effbot at 7:22 AM on April 24, 2016
Yeah, that was the simplified "I'm on mobile" version. And yeah, Grantis is seriously badass (as are the other members of 3rdeyegirl -- Prince was a brilliant bandleader).
posted by effbot at 7:22 AM on April 24, 2016
Prince's other hits you may not have known were his with YT links.
posted by nickyskye at 8:44 AM on April 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by nickyskye at 8:44 AM on April 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
EXCLUSIVE: Inside Prince's Jehovah's Witness Church for which the singer once went door to door Bible in hand - and made large cash donations over the years
posted by bukvich at 8:54 AM on April 24, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by bukvich at 8:54 AM on April 24, 2016 [2 favorites]
This comes as it emerged the Purple Rain star was cremated in secret on Friday - in accordance with Jehovah’s Witness tradition that a person’s body must be cremated within a week of death.
That is not a Jehovah's Witness tradition.
posted by chrchr at 11:04 AM on April 24, 2016 [2 favorites]
That is not a Jehovah's Witness tradition.
posted by chrchr at 11:04 AM on April 24, 2016 [2 favorites]
From the archives: Prince in the '90s on One Week One Band.
Unrelated: I keep thinking of Wendy & Lisa amidst all this discussion. There were rumors that Prince would only share the stage with them if they "came out" as straight and joined the Jehovah's Witnesses. I hope they were able to reconcile before he died.
posted by pxe2000 at 11:55 AM on April 24, 2016
Unrelated: I keep thinking of Wendy & Lisa amidst all this discussion. There were rumors that Prince would only share the stage with them if they "came out" as straight and joined the Jehovah's Witnesses. I hope they were able to reconcile before he died.
posted by pxe2000 at 11:55 AM on April 24, 2016
Prince as patron to the Paisley Underground scene
posted by Joey Michaels at 12:54 PM on April 24, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 12:54 PM on April 24, 2016 [2 favorites]
Prince MTV Unplugged - The Art of Musicology
posted by adamvasco at 2:23 PM on April 24, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by adamvasco at 2:23 PM on April 24, 2016 [3 favorites]
There were rumors that Prince would only share the stage with them if they "came out" as straight and joined the Jehovah's Witnesses.
There's not really anything that supports that rumour in this interview with Wendy & Lisa from 2009 (long after they left his band), so probably bullshit. (Trevor Horn is apparently a shithead, though).
(the poster they're talking about is this one, btw).
posted by effbot at 3:10 PM on April 24, 2016
There's not really anything that supports that rumour in this interview with Wendy & Lisa from 2009 (long after they left his band), so probably bullshit. (Trevor Horn is apparently a shithead, though).
(the poster they're talking about is this one, btw).
posted by effbot at 3:10 PM on April 24, 2016
...um.
So, this focused attention to Prince has prompted me to finally look up all the lyrics to "Let's Go Crazy," and even though three separate sites report this, I am having trouble believing it.
So - does the chorus of "Let's Go Crazy" REALLY go
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:38 PM on April 24, 2016 [2 favorites]
So, this focused attention to Prince has prompted me to finally look up all the lyrics to "Let's Go Crazy," and even though three separate sites report this, I am having trouble believing it.
So - does the chorus of "Let's Go Crazy" REALLY go
Let's go crazy, let's get nuts,....?
Let's look for the purple banana until they throw us in the truck...
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:38 PM on April 24, 2016 [2 favorites]
that's my recollection from the lyric sheet back in the day.
posted by fingers_of_fire at 3:41 PM on April 24, 2016
posted by fingers_of_fire at 3:41 PM on April 24, 2016
Yes, that is real.
posted by mountmccabe at 3:42 PM on April 24, 2016
posted by mountmccabe at 3:42 PM on April 24, 2016
I always sang "look for the purple manatee" myself.
posted by TwoStride at 3:43 PM on April 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by TwoStride at 3:43 PM on April 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
...I don't know what is more surprising - the fact that that song has a line about looking for purple bananas or the fact that it has taken me 32 years to learn that.
what does that even MEEEEEEEAAAAAAN
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:45 PM on April 24, 2016 [2 favorites]
what does that even MEEEEEEEAAAAAAN
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:45 PM on April 24, 2016 [2 favorites]
Team Slipped on a Purple Manatee.
posted by Dr. Zira at 3:46 PM on April 24, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Dr. Zira at 3:46 PM on April 24, 2016 [2 favorites]
Sometimes a purple banana is not just a purple banana.
Let's live wildly/fuck until we are rounded up as crazy/die, is how I take it.
posted by mountmccabe at 3:48 PM on April 24, 2016
Let's live wildly/fuck until we are rounded up as crazy/die, is how I take it.
posted by mountmccabe at 3:48 PM on April 24, 2016
Sometimes a purple banana is not just a purple banana.
* blink *
Ohhhhhhhh.
Okay, maybe it didn't connect because I've never seen one o' them things actually look purple even at its most turgid.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:11 PM on April 24, 2016 [3 favorites]
* blink *
Ohhhhhhhh.
Okay, maybe it didn't connect because I've never seen one o' them things actually look purple even at its most turgid.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:11 PM on April 24, 2016 [3 favorites]
Love him for letting this little black girl rock unapologetically.
.
posted by nubianinthedesert at 4:38 PM on April 24, 2016 [3 favorites]
.
posted by nubianinthedesert at 4:38 PM on April 24, 2016 [3 favorites]
140 odd minute mixcloud of mostly not over-familiar stuff -- 1982-88 ...
The Beautiful Ones
posted by philip-random at 5:29 PM on April 24, 2016 [8 favorites]
The Beautiful Ones
posted by philip-random at 5:29 PM on April 24, 2016 [8 favorites]
From the NPR link above:
But it was my thirty-something, music nerd friends who were his most ardent proselytizers; they talked about him in a tone that was reverential and also maybe a little unhinged. They'd tell stories about their first Prince experiences. (No matter how old they were in these retellings, his music was never age-appropriate as Prince was always too grown.)
Rock fans, soul fans, hip-hop fans, Recovering Oddball Black Kids — they all did that hand-on-heart, Isweartogod thing when they talked about him, lowering (or raising) their voices and no longer blinking and tilting their heads before walking me through the arc of their very specific feelings whenever they listened to, say, "When You Were Mine." They'd tell stories about their close encounters — the way he'd invite the folks who frequented his official message boards to watch him do his soundchecks before his concerts, the times they saw him when he would randomly materialize at some smallish club and perform for hours and conscript some other rapt, nervous pop stars in attendance to hop onstage to perform with him. Whenever folks got into this trance, I'd ask: Uh, so how many times have you seen Prince perform? Their answers were usually somewhere in the low millions.
It checks out.
posted by petebest at 6:13 PM on April 24, 2016 [5 favorites]
But it was my thirty-something, music nerd friends who were his most ardent proselytizers; they talked about him in a tone that was reverential and also maybe a little unhinged. They'd tell stories about their first Prince experiences. (No matter how old they were in these retellings, his music was never age-appropriate as Prince was always too grown.)
Rock fans, soul fans, hip-hop fans, Recovering Oddball Black Kids — they all did that hand-on-heart, Isweartogod thing when they talked about him, lowering (or raising) their voices and no longer blinking and tilting their heads before walking me through the arc of their very specific feelings whenever they listened to, say, "When You Were Mine." They'd tell stories about their close encounters — the way he'd invite the folks who frequented his official message boards to watch him do his soundchecks before his concerts, the times they saw him when he would randomly materialize at some smallish club and perform for hours and conscript some other rapt, nervous pop stars in attendance to hop onstage to perform with him. Whenever folks got into this trance, I'd ask: Uh, so how many times have you seen Prince perform? Their answers were usually somewhere in the low millions.
It checks out.
posted by petebest at 6:13 PM on April 24, 2016 [5 favorites]
Btw, another interesting woman from Prince's crew: Susan Rogers, sound engineer on Purple Rain, Around the World in a Day, Parade, and Sign o' the Times, among others. Here's a couple of interviews, on their work on Purple Rain (part one and two) and Sign o' the Times (parts one, two, three).
posted by effbot at 6:27 PM on April 24, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by effbot at 6:27 PM on April 24, 2016 [6 favorites]
Not to be a downer, but I found the interview where Wendy and Lisa talked about the strained relationship between them and Prince in the oughts. Nothing as dramatic as Trevor Horn's assholery, but still sad.
posted by pxe2000 at 6:46 PM on April 24, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by pxe2000 at 6:46 PM on April 24, 2016 [3 favorites]
I'm a huge fan starting around the 1999 album, probably peaking around Lovesexy, but Prince is always my answer to "who's your favorite?" So, I'm going to share a somewhat embarrassing story down here at the bottom of this thread. During the Lovesexy tour, my best friends and I waited all night outside the mall to buy tickets. Seriously, do people still do that? That night was so fun. We were third in line, drinking Mad Dog 20/20. I guess I was a high school junior. Fast forward a couple of months to the concert, third row seats on the floor. He opened with Erotica City but only after a slow build up with the bass drum. Then BOOM what a spectacle, the Thunderbird driving down with Prince at the wheel. Kat dancing furiously. And I just lost it, I wanted to be up there on stage. And I tried. Made it about halfway up before getting my ass tossed. For whatever reason, people were highfiving me up the aisles as security rolled me out of the arena.
Quite the rush, but suddenly I was alone out in the cold Pittsburgh air, the pulse of the concert a distant thump from inside the arena. BUT, my mom had given me 30 bucks for a tshirt. I found a scalper, he was asking 30 dollars, I handed it over. I remember my new ticket said Limited View Ticket but it was my way right back in. Once in the door, I used my old stub to get down to the floor and find my crew. Running down the aisle, I got more highfives, security recognized me but let me go with a "take it easy, guy" and I watched the rest of the show.
It was a lot to live down on Monday in high school, what with the teasing . I didn't give a damn. I even found a great bootleg of the show on cassette to catch what I missed. My friend Ed bought a tshirt and let me wear it whenever I wanted.
I can't believe Prince is dead.
posted by firemouth at 6:52 PM on April 24, 2016 [23 favorites]
Quite the rush, but suddenly I was alone out in the cold Pittsburgh air, the pulse of the concert a distant thump from inside the arena. BUT, my mom had given me 30 bucks for a tshirt. I found a scalper, he was asking 30 dollars, I handed it over. I remember my new ticket said Limited View Ticket but it was my way right back in. Once in the door, I used my old stub to get down to the floor and find my crew. Running down the aisle, I got more highfives, security recognized me but let me go with a "take it easy, guy" and I watched the rest of the show.
It was a lot to live down on Monday in high school, what with the teasing . I didn't give a damn. I even found a great bootleg of the show on cassette to catch what I missed. My friend Ed bought a tshirt and let me wear it whenever I wanted.
I can't believe Prince is dead.
posted by firemouth at 6:52 PM on April 24, 2016 [23 favorites]
Damn, Erotic City, of course.
posted by firemouth at 6:56 PM on April 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by firemouth at 6:56 PM on April 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
Remember that time Conan O'Brien helped write a Simpsons episode about Prince that never got made?
posted by Mezentian at 7:51 PM on April 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Mezentian at 7:51 PM on April 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
Thanks to everybody for the great recommendations on lesser known and later Prince songs. I've been killing hours searching for elusive videos -- here are my three favorite finds, who knows how long they'll last, so react accordingly.
Joy in Reptition live, 11:00, date and time unknown, crystal clear sound https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fay_rKp9qs
1988 LoveSexy Tour in Europe - this says part one and it's an hour and four minutes, no sign of part 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etMqfDsFIKw
Prince at the Brits, 2006 (whatever that is, some TV show)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D15woX5EqLk
And I can't say enough about nickyskye's clip of the Osaka sound check, "Summertime" on the keyboards, going through the chord changes
posted by msalt at 1:07 AM on April 25, 2016 [6 favorites]
Joy in Reptition live, 11:00, date and time unknown, crystal clear sound https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fay_rKp9qs
1988 LoveSexy Tour in Europe - this says part one and it's an hour and four minutes, no sign of part 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etMqfDsFIKw
Prince at the Brits, 2006 (whatever that is, some TV show)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D15woX5EqLk
And I can't say enough about nickyskye's clip of the Osaka sound check, "Summertime" on the keyboards, going through the chord changes
posted by msalt at 1:07 AM on April 25, 2016 [6 favorites]
Tonight my friend and I went to see Purple Rain in downtown Chicago, and we lucked out and saw it with just the right crowd. They were loud and engaged; there was lots of dancing (in seats), people were singing—people went wild during Darling Nikki.
According to TV Tropes, "The Kid playing "Darling Nikki" is supposed to be a self-indulgent disaster that leaves the audience cold. Editing magic was needed because the extras were going crazy for it." When I watched Purple Rain this past weekend, it's at least true that there are hardly any crowd reaction shots, which is unusual for the concert footage. Instead, you get reaction shots from Morris Day and Apollonia Kotero and maybe one or two of the other actors, so I can believe it.
posted by Gelatin at 7:35 AM on April 25, 2016 [3 favorites]
According to TV Tropes, "The Kid playing "Darling Nikki" is supposed to be a self-indulgent disaster that leaves the audience cold. Editing magic was needed because the extras were going crazy for it." When I watched Purple Rain this past weekend, it's at least true that there are hardly any crowd reaction shots, which is unusual for the concert footage. Instead, you get reaction shots from Morris Day and Apollonia Kotero and maybe one or two of the other actors, so I can believe it.
posted by Gelatin at 7:35 AM on April 25, 2016 [3 favorites]
That second link is borked, msalt. Here 'tis: Prince - Lovesexy tour live in Europe, 1988
I see the next thread is "The Ninth Wonder of the World falls ..."
I declare Prince The Nth Wonder of the World.
posted by valetta at 8:06 AM on April 25, 2016 [2 favorites]
I see the next thread is "The Ninth Wonder of the World falls ..."
I declare Prince The Nth Wonder of the World.
posted by valetta at 8:06 AM on April 25, 2016 [2 favorites]
Minnesota Twins via to honor Prince tonight (4/25), request fans wear purple as part of the occasion.
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:57 AM on April 25, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:57 AM on April 25, 2016 [2 favorites]
On Prince's contentious relationship with the local media: ‘Why you wanna treat me so bad?’ Prince and the Minnesota media
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:05 AM on April 25, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:05 AM on April 25, 2016 [2 favorites]
Earlier this year I read ballerina Misty Copeland's autobiography, and she devotes a nice section to her collaborations with Prince and how he mentored and inspired her.
Watch Prince Perform ‘The Beautiful Ones’ With Misty Copeland
posted by homunculus at 2:59 PM on April 25, 2016
Watch Prince Perform ‘The Beautiful Ones’ With Misty Copeland
posted by homunculus at 2:59 PM on April 25, 2016
Prince, the Secret Philanthropist: 'His Cause Was Humanity'. Activist Van Jones breaks down how the artist helped encourage urban youth to learn technology, live green and slyly bring politicians together
posted by homunculus at 3:21 PM on April 25, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 3:21 PM on April 25, 2016 [2 favorites]
Everybody Was Wrong About The Car That Inspired Prince's 'Little Red Corvette'
posted by homunculus at 3:24 PM on April 25, 2016
posted by homunculus at 3:24 PM on April 25, 2016
Questlove Remembers Prince: In This Life, You're on Your Own. In a powerful essay, the Roots leader goes deep on the genius, loneliness and the secret hip-hop heart of his idol
posted by homunculus at 3:32 PM on April 25, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 3:32 PM on April 25, 2016 [6 favorites]
I'm not sure anyone has mentioned this yet, so apologies if I missed it. One of the unintended consequences of being so ... about his songs being on the internet lead to us having broader fair use rights. The baby dancing version of Let's Go Crazy that lead to the decision.
posted by squeak at 4:28 PM on April 25, 2016
posted by squeak at 4:28 PM on April 25, 2016
That time (in 1984) Prince Played a Concert at Gallaudet
posted by larrybob at 5:27 PM on April 25, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by larrybob at 5:27 PM on April 25, 2016 [1 favorite]
Thank you for that Questlove remembrance homunculus. There are many great pull quotes but I love the last paragraph:
This is what I do know: Much of my motivation for waking up at 5 a.m. to work — and sometimes going to bed at 5 a.m. after work — came from him. Whenever it seemed like too steep a climb, I reminded myself that Prince did it, so I had to also. It was the only way to achieve that level of greatness (which was, of course, impossible, but that's aspirational thinking for ya). For the last twenty years, whenever I was up at five in the morning, I knew that Prince was up too, somewhere, in a sense sharing a workspace with me. For the last few days, 5 a.m. has felt different. It's just a lonely hour now, a cold time before the sun comes up.
posted by Cold Lurkey at 5:31 PM on April 25, 2016 [9 favorites]
This is what I do know: Much of my motivation for waking up at 5 a.m. to work — and sometimes going to bed at 5 a.m. after work — came from him. Whenever it seemed like too steep a climb, I reminded myself that Prince did it, so I had to also. It was the only way to achieve that level of greatness (which was, of course, impossible, but that's aspirational thinking for ya). For the last twenty years, whenever I was up at five in the morning, I knew that Prince was up too, somewhere, in a sense sharing a workspace with me. For the last few days, 5 a.m. has felt different. It's just a lonely hour now, a cold time before the sun comes up.
posted by Cold Lurkey at 5:31 PM on April 25, 2016 [9 favorites]
Alan Light's book Let's Go Crazy goes into detail about Prince's work with deaf/Deaf and disabled students during the Purple Rain tour.
posted by pxe2000 at 6:11 PM on April 25, 2016
posted by pxe2000 at 6:11 PM on April 25, 2016
Remembrances by Prince's former tour manager (who'd also tour-managed James Brown and Kiss) and Paisley Park exec Alan Leeds and his younger brother, Prince's former sax player Eric Leeds. Alan says "It wasn’t his time", but Eric says "I don’t believe he was meant to grow old."
posted by larrybob at 6:13 PM on April 25, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by larrybob at 6:13 PM on April 25, 2016 [2 favorites]
I'm at a gay bar in the Castro and they're playing Prince on everything. I can't believe he's dead.
posted by rtha at 6:34 PM on April 25, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by rtha at 6:34 PM on April 25, 2016 [3 favorites]
This is what it sounds like when Prince covers ...
Joni Mitchell's "A Case of You"
posted by valetta at 12:33 AM on April 26, 2016 [5 favorites]
Joni Mitchell's "A Case of You"
posted by valetta at 12:33 AM on April 26, 2016 [5 favorites]
I'm not going to share links, but for some reason at work today YouTube started sharing various videos with titles like "Prince Murdered in ☀️Illuminati☀️ Blood Sacrifice Satanic Ritual for Exposing Chemtrails on Live TV?".
I'm not going to lie, I chortled.
But then I watched one, by a certain US radio host, and you know those jokes about flouride, chem trails, Brietbart, that Supreme Court judge who died and Obama... they really are all connected.
I heard someone use "sheeple" unironically.
It was bizarre. Extreme clickbait.
(But, yes, apparently Prince was concerned about chemtrails)
posted by Mezentian at 3:05 AM on April 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm not going to lie, I chortled.
But then I watched one, by a certain US radio host, and you know those jokes about flouride, chem trails, Brietbart, that Supreme Court judge who died and Obama... they really are all connected.
I heard someone use "sheeple" unironically.
It was bizarre. Extreme clickbait.
(But, yes, apparently Prince was concerned about chemtrails)
posted by Mezentian at 3:05 AM on April 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
Every Prince Song on Tidal Ranked by "Professor Rex"
posted by Cookiebastard at 4:42 PM on April 26, 2016
posted by Cookiebastard at 4:42 PM on April 26, 2016
OH MAN. Jimmy Fallon on that time he was commanded to play ping-pong with Prince. I know it's almost 10 minutes long and that description sounds completely inessential but it is, no shit, one of the best rock-star stories I've ever heard, Fallon's Prince impression does the whole thing justice, and the punchline does not disappoint.
posted by Mothlight at 7:53 PM on April 26, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by Mothlight at 7:53 PM on April 26, 2016 [8 favorites]
D'Angelo will be playing a tribute to Prince tonight on Fallon and Questlove said its a must-see.
posted by sallybrown at 8:04 PM on April 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by sallybrown at 8:04 PM on April 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
Every Prince Song on Tidal Ranked by "Professor Rex"
As pointed out in the opener, and as my wife discovered after we signed up, no Pussy Control. Only way I've found to legally obtain that is to drop a hundred for a used CD.
posted by middleclasstool at 8:34 PM on April 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
As pointed out in the opener, and as my wife discovered after we signed up, no Pussy Control. Only way I've found to legally obtain that is to drop a hundred for a used CD.
posted by middleclasstool at 8:34 PM on April 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
D'Angelo performing "Sometimes It Snows in April" on Jimmy Fallon
Aw hell. I've got all the feelings now.
posted by naju at 10:18 PM on April 26, 2016 [6 favorites]
Aw hell. I've got all the feelings now.
posted by naju at 10:18 PM on April 26, 2016 [6 favorites]
Quest love is right, the D'Angelo performance is tremendous.
posted by From Bklyn at 10:54 PM on April 26, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by From Bklyn at 10:54 PM on April 26, 2016 [2 favorites]
PURPLE RAIN EPIC 20 min Finale & Insane 10 min Guitar Solo - Prince and the Revolution Live 1985
posted by valetta at 6:07 AM on April 27, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by valetta at 6:07 AM on April 27, 2016 [4 favorites]
>Every Prince Song on Tidal Ranked by "Professor Rex"
I'm confused. There's way more on Tidal than that. What about incredible songs like Solo, She's Always In My Hair, Head, Damn U, The Question Of U, Joy In Repetition, All The Critics Love U In New York, Sexy Dancer, Something In The Water (Does Not Compute)...
posted by Dragonness at 7:57 AM on April 27, 2016
I'm confused. There's way more on Tidal than that. What about incredible songs like Solo, She's Always In My Hair, Head, Damn U, The Question Of U, Joy In Repetition, All The Critics Love U In New York, Sexy Dancer, Something In The Water (Does Not Compute)...
posted by Dragonness at 7:57 AM on April 27, 2016
Prince died without a will, sister says
A reminder: If you have anything or anyone in your life, you need a will.
posted by Etrigan at 9:36 AM on April 27, 2016 [3 favorites]
A reminder: If you have anything or anyone in your life, you need a will.
posted by Etrigan at 9:36 AM on April 27, 2016 [3 favorites]
Prince's death gets more and more painful for me each day. I won't claim to have been the craziest Prince fan, but like a lot of people born in the mid 70s, I felt his earthquake (housequake?)-like impact on the music and culture around me, and I grooved to him many times, and as I learned more about music history etc, I gained enormous respect for what a brilliant person he was at blending, bending and creating genres. Also, what a badass guitar player he was. Now that he's gone and I am learning more about his thoughtfully focused philanthropy that seemed especially keen to uplift black communities, I'm all the more blown away by him.
Prince's death seems to exist at this nexus of some of our biggest social failings right now: the opiate epidemic and disparities between African American and white life expectancy. And his loss feels symbolically like this massive loss for our culture: even though Prince became more conservative after his religious conversion, he still symbolized this beautiful vision of a world where racial harmony is possible, where women are in the front, where queerness is valued, where creativity in the boldest, bravest way is not just allowed but required, and of course where sexuality in it's funkiest, dirtiest and most explicit, but never exploitative or coercive forms is the center of everything.
I am listening to Prince all day every day, and every day I feel more lonely for him.
posted by latkes at 9:57 AM on April 27, 2016 [4 favorites]
Prince's death seems to exist at this nexus of some of our biggest social failings right now: the opiate epidemic and disparities between African American and white life expectancy. And his loss feels symbolically like this massive loss for our culture: even though Prince became more conservative after his religious conversion, he still symbolized this beautiful vision of a world where racial harmony is possible, where women are in the front, where queerness is valued, where creativity in the boldest, bravest way is not just allowed but required, and of course where sexuality in it's funkiest, dirtiest and most explicit, but never exploitative or coercive forms is the center of everything.
I am listening to Prince all day every day, and every day I feel more lonely for him.
posted by latkes at 9:57 AM on April 27, 2016 [4 favorites]
@latkes...."housequake". Man, I haven't heard that in over 30 years....thanks for bringing that term back to life. I hear you about Prince. I'm still really sad about it. I wasn't a huge super fan but respectful of his talents, liked a lot of songs, saw him in concert and it was hands down the best concert I've been to (Foo Fighters second) and I miss the guy. I really, really miss the guy.
posted by stormpooper at 10:00 AM on April 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by stormpooper at 10:00 AM on April 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
I've never bothered, because my assets would be divided between my parents and my siblings and that's who I would leave them to anyway. The only thing I'd be concerned about would be my cat, and my family are cat people and I can trust them to make sure she gets a new home, they wouldn't dump her at a shelter. I suppose it might make it faster if I wrote it out, though.
posted by tavella at 10:02 AM on April 27, 2016
posted by tavella at 10:02 AM on April 27, 2016
I'm going to see Purple Rain tonight (IRL). I should wear leather pants, right?
posted by AFABulous at 10:02 AM on April 27, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by AFABulous at 10:02 AM on April 27, 2016 [3 favorites]
Prince died without a will, sister says
Congratulations, sister, it's all yours.
posted by Sys Rq at 10:14 AM on April 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
Congratulations, sister, it's all yours.
posted by Sys Rq at 10:14 AM on April 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
I also saw Purple Rain in a theater this week, and it was great. So much fun to see with a crowd, even when the theater wasn't completely full.
Also, HOLY SHIT at Prince not having a will. He had personally reclaimed control of his music, so the rights to every song he wrote -- including the unpublished vault -- are going to be up for grabs unless they find one. Is that the most valuable non-assigned estate in history?
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 10:22 AM on April 27, 2016 [4 favorites]
Also, HOLY SHIT at Prince not having a will. He had personally reclaimed control of his music, so the rights to every song he wrote -- including the unpublished vault -- are going to be up for grabs unless they find one. Is that the most valuable non-assigned estate in history?
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 10:22 AM on April 27, 2016 [4 favorites]
I went to a Purple Rain screening last night at the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis, and it was one of the best film screenings I've ever been to, hands down. Here's a taste of the crowd (FB video link) dancing in the aisles before the movie even began. There were people of all ages, races, and cultures there, and it was just a really great and positive event that made me feel so much better after being really depressed since Prince's passing. Scroll down on this link for a write up from the Memphis Commercial Appeal entertainment editor.
posted by vibrotronica at 10:31 AM on April 27, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by vibrotronica at 10:31 AM on April 27, 2016 [3 favorites]
Is that the most valuable non-assigned estate in history?
Picasso's was likely worth more.
posted by Etrigan at 10:35 AM on April 27, 2016
Picasso's was likely worth more.
posted by Etrigan at 10:35 AM on April 27, 2016
Not up for grabs, there's a quite clear set of intestacy heirs. But my god, using Prince's music is going to be a mess going forward. Having to negotiate rights with a half dozen people? And given they are presumably also middle-aged like their brother, by the time copyright runs out, negotiations will be with their grandchildren or great-grandchildren, and god knows how many ways the rights will be split. Hell, if the family pulls the Beatles maneuver in 50 years (use up the 50 years copyright for unreleased material, release music for a microsecond to lock it up for another 70), it would be 120 years and they could be dealing with the sixth to ninth generation and the population of a small town. And that's if Disney doesn't continue to buy extensions and it seems unlikely they'll stop now.
posted by tavella at 10:36 AM on April 27, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by tavella at 10:36 AM on April 27, 2016 [2 favorites]
Best bet would seem to be the creation of some kind of trust/administrator of Prince's estate who could be the point of rights negotiation? And that person/group makes sure that the interests of Prince's heirs get taken care off, monies distributed, etc.
Or...the rights gets sold to one of the distributing companies and the heirs split the proceeds? But even that negotiation will be a mess.
posted by nubs at 10:40 AM on April 27, 2016
Or...the rights gets sold to one of the distributing companies and the heirs split the proceeds? But even that negotiation will be a mess.
posted by nubs at 10:40 AM on April 27, 2016
Purple Rain screening at the Chauvel in Sydney, next Wednesday 4th May, 8.30pm.
posted by valetta at 10:44 AM on April 27, 2016
posted by valetta at 10:44 AM on April 27, 2016
My guess would be either the creation of Prince Licensing Entity, owned by the heirs, or Apple/Google/TIDAL making an offer for the exclusive rights and management so lavish everyone would be pleased with their take.
Or Shkreli, if we're in the darkest timeline.
posted by lmfsilva at 10:51 AM on April 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
Or Shkreli, if we're in the darkest timeline.
posted by lmfsilva at 10:51 AM on April 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
Oh, I expect that there will be something like that, but as distance and number of heirs increases, so does the odds of getting someone who has truly delusional ideas of what their rights are worth, and who is willing to shut the whole thing down for everyone else until they get what they think they deserve. Or hell, someone who thinks Prince was a terrible sinner and should be erased from memory, as in the very sad case of John M. Ford who died intestate, resulting in the family that hated him controlling his work.
posted by tavella at 11:16 AM on April 27, 2016
posted by tavella at 11:16 AM on April 27, 2016
The claim he didn't have a will is highly suspicious to me, but whatever. Not my circus.
posted by rhizome at 12:13 PM on April 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by rhizome at 12:13 PM on April 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
In fairness, I didn't think he'd ever die either.
posted by Etrigan at 12:16 PM on April 27, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 12:16 PM on April 27, 2016 [7 favorites]
One of the articles I read on the will had a former manager or attorney saying basically the same thing, that prince wouldn't have not had a will, considering how meticulous the rest of his business had been. But who knows, 57 is young and wills are too easily dismissed as something you'll need later. Later always comes sooner than we want.
posted by [insert clever name here] at 12:27 PM on April 27, 2016
posted by [insert clever name here] at 12:27 PM on April 27, 2016
Somewhere, maybe many somewhere's, I saw the suggestion that Prince will be our Elvis. They're probably right. Paisley Park is perfectly positioned to be a Graceland-esque shrine.
The idea of Prince impersonators makes me sad. A cartoonish representation of someone larger than life. A meer shadow. This Halloween, we're almost certain to be inundated with cheap Prince costumes. Fortunately we're past the major design and manufacturing window for costumes for this Halloween. Unfortunately, that window keep saying getting smaller, and if there is a big cultural event, someone will get the costume out by Halloween.
posted by [insert clever name here] at 1:08 PM on April 27, 2016 [3 favorites]
The idea of Prince impersonators makes me sad. A cartoonish representation of someone larger than life. A meer shadow. This Halloween, we're almost certain to be inundated with cheap Prince costumes. Fortunately we're past the major design and manufacturing window for costumes for this Halloween. Unfortunately, that window keep saying getting smaller, and if there is a big cultural event, someone will get the costume out by Halloween.
posted by [insert clever name here] at 1:08 PM on April 27, 2016 [3 favorites]
Well, none of the attorneys he worked with have come forth and said he lodged a will with them. Which would be the normal way to do it if it was being done professionally. And I would think that if it was filed with the probate court, that would have come up by now. So it seems he wasn't very professional about it. If your suspicion is that he made one that someone has destroyed, well... no one has come forth to say they witnessed a will that is now missing.
It's possible he was one of those people who couldn't quite face making death concrete.
posted by tavella at 1:17 PM on April 27, 2016 [2 favorites]
It's possible he was one of those people who couldn't quite face making death concrete.
posted by tavella at 1:17 PM on April 27, 2016 [2 favorites]
I'm surprised there's not a will just based on how particular he was about uses of his music, internet, etc., I'm surprised there's not even a will written thirty years ago.
However, I don't think it would have taken this long for an attorney to have stepped forward with one or for one to show up in probate somewhere if there was one.
I'm hoping the family chills on the song catalog and doesn't immediately sell it. It would be nice if we don't start hearing his music in all the commercials, all the movies, etc.,
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 3:21 PM on April 27, 2016 [3 favorites]
However, I don't think it would have taken this long for an attorney to have stepped forward with one or for one to show up in probate somewhere if there was one.
I'm hoping the family chills on the song catalog and doesn't immediately sell it. It would be nice if we don't start hearing his music in all the commercials, all the movies, etc.,
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 3:21 PM on April 27, 2016 [3 favorites]
I am making a couple of ballpark guesses here, but I would guess there are at least two entities at play: Prince Rogers Nelson the individual, and Prince The Company, which given the scale and scope of tax and payroll complexity is probably an S-corp. Prince The Company doesn't stop existing because the individual died, though ownership of the company in the event of his death must have been documented somewhere. Prince the Company might very well be the owner of the publishing rights. It might also own the property. For all we know, Prince the Individual was getting a paycheck for $2 every other week, only has a checking account with $400 in it, and everything else belongs to the company. Which presumably solely belongs to him, but might not, and in any case belongs to him differently than the checking account.
I don't know that lawyers for either of those entities have an obligation to immediately produce a will or announce its existence to the public (I would think they are under no obligation to tell the truth about this to anyone but the probate judge when asked, and I assume there is a deadline for then producing any related documents, but surely they have time). A family member who wants to be temporarily granted support funds would be motivated to declare the decedent died intestate as soon as possible. The executor may have their own reasons for not jumping quite so quickly.
Among other things, we don't know a cause of death yet. That might be one reason the details about the will remain sketchy. I've not heard any hint of a criminal investigation, but that might also be pending the coroner's final report.
posted by Lyn Never at 4:08 PM on April 27, 2016 [2 favorites]
I don't know that lawyers for either of those entities have an obligation to immediately produce a will or announce its existence to the public (I would think they are under no obligation to tell the truth about this to anyone but the probate judge when asked, and I assume there is a deadline for then producing any related documents, but surely they have time). A family member who wants to be temporarily granted support funds would be motivated to declare the decedent died intestate as soon as possible. The executor may have their own reasons for not jumping quite so quickly.
Among other things, we don't know a cause of death yet. That might be one reason the details about the will remain sketchy. I've not heard any hint of a criminal investigation, but that might also be pending the coroner's final report.
posted by Lyn Never at 4:08 PM on April 27, 2016 [2 favorites]
Do JWs have similar restrictions to wills like Muslims do? I know in Islam you can't have a will in the normal sense because there's a set way to distribute property to heirs.
posted by divabat at 5:24 PM on April 27, 2016
posted by divabat at 5:24 PM on April 27, 2016
No. Jehovah's Witnesses have no rules about how estates are distributed.
posted by chrchr at 5:41 PM on April 27, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by chrchr at 5:41 PM on April 27, 2016 [2 favorites]
Here's just a fun, cute story about Prince's appearance on New Girl from Vulture, ‘Isn’t This Funnier?’ New Girl Creator Liz Meriwether Recalls the Making of the Prince Episode:
At 3 a.m., in the middle of the week, I was holding on to a cup of coffee for dear life when someone elbowed me. “Hey, I think Prince wants you.” I looked up. Prince was standing on the balcony, beckoning to me. I put the coffee down and prepared for the worst. I must have done something wrong. It was all over. I walked up the stairs and followed him into a bathroom. He turned out the lights. For a moment, I was standing in a small, dark bathroom alone with Prince. Then he flicked a lighter on underneath his chin.Aside from a fun anecdote, there's also a bit about Prince as an artist:
“Isn’t this funnier?”
I realized he was acting out the scene we were about to shoot. As scripted, Zooey was in a dark closet, and Prince surprises her by turning on a flashlight under his chin. Prince thought a lighter would be funnier. It was, and it would be beautiful on-camera. I started laughing. He smiled. I tried to stay cool. “Yeah, that’s funnier. Let’s do that.”
We’ve all seen The Voice or American Idol — we’ve all bought into the myth, at some level, that a great voice and a little bit of luck can make someone a pop star. After a week with Prince, I realized how ridiculous that is. He was an artist down to the bone. It’s not enough to have extraordinary vision; you have to know how to turn that vision into something that exists in the very flawed, complicated world of human beings and money and phone calls. To do that is an endless battle, especially if what you see in your head is unimaginable to other people. Obviously he could see things and hear things that no one else could, but what amazed me was his ability to defend and cultivate that vision until it became real in everyone else’s heads, until we could all see it too.posted by mhum at 6:08 PM on April 27, 2016 [20 favorites]
A kid who had a crush on a girl at my school snuck in one night and made this. I wish the yearbook staff had gotten it in color! The school painted it over.
.
posted by brujita at 11:57 PM on April 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
.
posted by brujita at 11:57 PM on April 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
In case it hasn't already been posted here: Nicholas Wolaver's audio recording of 15 minutes of Prince's second to last performance.
posted by progosk at 10:15 AM on April 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by progosk at 10:15 AM on April 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
If your suspicion is that he made one that someone has destroyed, well... no one has come forth to say they witnessed a will that is now missing.
In Arizona, if you can't produce an original of the will, then if it goes to any sort of contest the attorney for the challenger will argue that the the presumption is that the will was destroyed by the deceased with the intention of invalidating it. And chances are that they'll win... and now you've got an intestate situation. A copy of the will isn't valid; it has to be the original. I don't know what Minnesota law on this is, but regardless, this is likely to turn into a giant mess. His sister did the right thing by asking the court for help this quickly.
posted by azpenguin at 11:23 AM on April 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
In Arizona, if you can't produce an original of the will, then if it goes to any sort of contest the attorney for the challenger will argue that the the presumption is that the will was destroyed by the deceased with the intention of invalidating it. And chances are that they'll win... and now you've got an intestate situation. A copy of the will isn't valid; it has to be the original. I don't know what Minnesota law on this is, but regardless, this is likely to turn into a giant mess. His sister did the right thing by asking the court for help this quickly.
posted by azpenguin at 11:23 AM on April 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
Gossip online is that the first meeting between siblings about the situation ended in sort of a disaster.
This may get really fucking ugly.
I'm not a lawyer but I've gotten a fair bit of education of how Arizona estate law works (just enough that I more or less understand what's going on... this stuff will make your head spin) via a recent family episode involving estranged siblings and a will that only a copy was found of. This has been pretty damn messy and at times ugly. I can't even begin to fathom how ugly an probate proceeding on an estate this massive is going to be, even if a will is found.
posted by azpenguin at 12:20 PM on April 29, 2016
This may get really fucking ugly.
I'm not a lawyer but I've gotten a fair bit of education of how Arizona estate law works (just enough that I more or less understand what's going on... this stuff will make your head spin) via a recent family episode involving estranged siblings and a will that only a copy was found of. This has been pretty damn messy and at times ugly. I can't even begin to fathom how ugly an probate proceeding on an estate this massive is going to be, even if a will is found.
posted by azpenguin at 12:20 PM on April 29, 2016
This may get really fucking ugly.
When my father and his four siblings got together to divide up my grandmother's possessions, things got pretty damn ugly at times. And they were a close family, a fair will existed, and the estate was relatively modest (though decently substantial.)
Six mostly half-siblings who barely knew each other, no will, and an immense pile of money and possessions at stake? It would take a miracle for it not to get ugly.
(Fortunately for my family, they eventually all hugged it out and are still close to this day. It was traumatic for them, though.)
posted by tavella at 12:20 PM on April 29, 2016 [2 favorites]
When my father and his four siblings got together to divide up my grandmother's possessions, things got pretty damn ugly at times. And they were a close family, a fair will existed, and the estate was relatively modest (though decently substantial.)
Six mostly half-siblings who barely knew each other, no will, and an immense pile of money and possessions at stake? It would take a miracle for it not to get ugly.
(Fortunately for my family, they eventually all hugged it out and are still close to this day. It was traumatic for them, though.)
posted by tavella at 12:20 PM on April 29, 2016 [2 favorites]
Hug it out, Prince's family! Hug it out!
Purple Rain Costume Designer's Original Sketches
iTunes' Official Music Charts for the week ending April 28, 2016:
Top Songs
1. Purple Rain, Prince & The Revolution
2. Formation, Beyoncé
3. Little Red Corvette, Prince
4. Let's Go Crazy, Prince & The Revolution
5. Kiss, Prince & The Revolution
6. Hold Up, Beyoncé
7. One Dance (feat. Wizkid & Kyla), Drake
8. Sorry, Beyoncé
9. Raspberry Beret, Prince & The Revolution
10.When Doves Cry, Prince & The Revolution
Top Albums
1. Lemonade, Beyoncé
2. The Very Best of Prince, Prince
3. Purple Rain (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture), Prince & The Revolution
4. The Hits/The B-Sides, Prince
5. Ultimate, Prince
6. 1999, Prince
7. Sign O' the Times, Prince
8. Therapy Session, NF
9. Traveller, Chris Stapleton
10.Always Strive and Prosper, A$AP Ferg
(copyright) 2016 Apple Inc.
posted by petebest at 4:43 PM on April 29, 2016 [4 favorites]
Purple Rain Costume Designer's Original Sketches
iTunes' Official Music Charts for the week ending April 28, 2016:
Top Songs
1. Purple Rain, Prince & The Revolution
2. Formation, Beyoncé
3. Little Red Corvette, Prince
4. Let's Go Crazy, Prince & The Revolution
5. Kiss, Prince & The Revolution
6. Hold Up, Beyoncé
7. One Dance (feat. Wizkid & Kyla), Drake
8. Sorry, Beyoncé
9. Raspberry Beret, Prince & The Revolution
10.When Doves Cry, Prince & The Revolution
Top Albums
1. Lemonade, Beyoncé
2. The Very Best of Prince, Prince
3. Purple Rain (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture), Prince & The Revolution
4. The Hits/The B-Sides, Prince
5. Ultimate, Prince
6. 1999, Prince
7. Sign O' the Times, Prince
8. Therapy Session, NF
9. Traveller, Chris Stapleton
10.Always Strive and Prosper, A$AP Ferg
(copyright) 2016 Apple Inc.
posted by petebest at 4:43 PM on April 29, 2016 [4 favorites]
So basically zero overlap between iTunes and Spotify's top songs this week. Welcome to the future.
posted by effbot at 4:51 PM on April 29, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by effbot at 4:51 PM on April 29, 2016 [2 favorites]
Is there any specific Prince memory or moment that stands out among the others?
Well, there are so many. He was incredibly competitive with Michael Jackson -- when you think about the ‘80s, those were really the two geniuses of that decade, and the contrast was like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Michael admired him enormously, and when Michael was making the album Bad, he wanted Prince to perform on it. I got a call from Quincy [Jones], who was producing the album, and he asked me if I could arrange for a conference call with Prince and Michael. So I did, and Michael and Quincy asked Prince if he would perform on the song “Bad” -- they wanted to do a duet. I don't think Prince ever had any intention of performing with Michael, but he was very, very polite and said “Look, Michael, you're a great artist. You make great records. You don't need me.” And he declined to do the project. --Mo Ostin, President of Warner Brothers Records
posted by petebest at 5:05 PM on April 29, 2016 [5 favorites]
Well, there are so many. He was incredibly competitive with Michael Jackson -- when you think about the ‘80s, those were really the two geniuses of that decade, and the contrast was like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Michael admired him enormously, and when Michael was making the album Bad, he wanted Prince to perform on it. I got a call from Quincy [Jones], who was producing the album, and he asked me if I could arrange for a conference call with Prince and Michael. So I did, and Michael and Quincy asked Prince if he would perform on the song “Bad” -- they wanted to do a duet. I don't think Prince ever had any intention of performing with Michael, but he was very, very polite and said “Look, Michael, you're a great artist. You make great records. You don't need me.” And he declined to do the project. --Mo Ostin, President of Warner Brothers Records
posted by petebest at 5:05 PM on April 29, 2016 [5 favorites]
The fans who filed into the Fox Theatre in Atlanta on April 14 couldn’t have known they were witnessing his final show, but in some ways it was a typical Prince marathon: two sets, 40-plus songs (some revisited), surprising covers and to close, “Purple Rain.” At one point, he had to leave the stage to collect himself. “Sometimes,” Prince told the crowd, “you forget how emotional the music is.”
Prince’s Piano & A Microphone Tour
Atlanta’s Fox Theatre, 4/14/16
SET ONE
1. Little Red Corvette/ Dirty Mind
2. Linus & Lucy (Vince Guaraldi "Peanuts" cover)
3. The Beautiful Ones
4. Nothing Compares 2 U
5. Joy in Repetition
6. Muse 2 the Pharaoh
7. U Got the Look
8. Pop Life
9. Elephants & Flowers
10. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
11. A Case of You (Joni Mitchell cover)
Encore 1
12. I Feel for You
13. Controversy
14. The Most Beautiful Girl in the World
15. I Would Die 4 U
16. Baby I'm a Star
Encore 2
17. Heroes (David Bowie cover)
18. Diamonds and Pearls
19. Adore
20. The Beautiful Ones
21. How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?
22. Do Me, Baby
23. I Wanna Be Your Lover
24. Kiss
SET TWO
1. When Will We Be Paid (Staple Singers cover)
2. The Max
3. Black Sweat
4. Girl
5. All Day, All Night
6. I Would Die 4 U
7. Baby I'm a Star
8. The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
9. Eye Love U, But Eye Don't Trust U Anymore
10. Little Red Corvette/ Dirty Mind
11. Linus & Lucy (Vince Guaraldi "Peanuts" cover)
12. Nothing Compares 2 U
Encore 1
13. Cream
14. Black Muse
15. How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?
Encore 2
16. Waiting in Vain (Bob Marley & The Wailers cover)
17. If I Was Your Girlfriend
Encore 3
18. Sometimes It Snows in April
19. Purple Rain/The Beautiful Ones/ Diamonds and Pearls
Linus & Lucy?? . . . *snif* . . . WAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!
posted by petebest at 5:18 PM on April 29, 2016 [10 favorites]
Prince’s Piano & A Microphone Tour
Atlanta’s Fox Theatre, 4/14/16
SET ONE
1. Little Red Corvette/ Dirty Mind
2. Linus & Lucy (Vince Guaraldi "Peanuts" cover)
3. The Beautiful Ones
4. Nothing Compares 2 U
5. Joy in Repetition
6. Muse 2 the Pharaoh
7. U Got the Look
8. Pop Life
9. Elephants & Flowers
10. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
11. A Case of You (Joni Mitchell cover)
Encore 1
12. I Feel for You
13. Controversy
14. The Most Beautiful Girl in the World
15. I Would Die 4 U
16. Baby I'm a Star
Encore 2
17. Heroes (David Bowie cover)
18. Diamonds and Pearls
19. Adore
20. The Beautiful Ones
21. How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?
22. Do Me, Baby
23. I Wanna Be Your Lover
24. Kiss
SET TWO
1. When Will We Be Paid (Staple Singers cover)
2. The Max
3. Black Sweat
4. Girl
5. All Day, All Night
6. I Would Die 4 U
7. Baby I'm a Star
8. The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
9. Eye Love U, But Eye Don't Trust U Anymore
10. Little Red Corvette/ Dirty Mind
11. Linus & Lucy (Vince Guaraldi "Peanuts" cover)
12. Nothing Compares 2 U
Encore 1
13. Cream
14. Black Muse
15. How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?
Encore 2
16. Waiting in Vain (Bob Marley & The Wailers cover)
17. If I Was Your Girlfriend
Encore 3
18. Sometimes It Snows in April
19. Purple Rain/The Beautiful Ones/ Diamonds and Pearls
Linus & Lucy?? . . . *snif* . . . WAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!
posted by petebest at 5:18 PM on April 29, 2016 [10 favorites]
Thousands Celebrate Prince at New Orleans Second Line Parade
posted by petebest at 6:59 PM on April 29, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by petebest at 6:59 PM on April 29, 2016 [3 favorites]
Re: declining Bad: I saw an interview with Prince somewhere this past week where he was asked about it. He said that when Michael Jackson approached him about it, he would have essentially been the guy that Michael was singing "Your butt is mine" to, and thought it just didn't work, and gestured to himself. I think the implication was that he thought it was a bad fit due to either stature or out of character. (He didn't say, exactly, that was up to audience interpretation.)
I've watched far too many videos of Prince to have a clue where he said it to link back to that video. (I'm sure it was YouTube) But it seemed much more like he just didn't think the concept worked, as opposed to being an outright dislike or unwillingness to work together. It's pretty clear he had a strong idea of how he wanted to be percieved and also had a strong vision for how he saw his music. Maybe that was too silly? Who knows?
posted by [insert clever name here] at 7:27 PM on April 29, 2016
I've watched far too many videos of Prince to have a clue where he said it to link back to that video. (I'm sure it was YouTube) But it seemed much more like he just didn't think the concept worked, as opposed to being an outright dislike or unwillingness to work together. It's pretty clear he had a strong idea of how he wanted to be percieved and also had a strong vision for how he saw his music. Maybe that was too silly? Who knows?
posted by [insert clever name here] at 7:27 PM on April 29, 2016
“Everyday Is a Winding Road”—Sheryl Crow & Prince - Lilith Fair, Toronto 22 August 1999
posted by ob1quixote at 9:04 PM on April 29, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by ob1quixote at 9:04 PM on April 29, 2016 [3 favorites]
I know we don't know yet, but it looks somewhat likely that Prince was a long time opiate addict (and possibly other substances).
When I hear about these crazy marathon shows he was playing in his late 50s, plus knowing he'd usually play some crazy after party after, well, that's obviously beyond the capacity of most people, and maybe it was beyond his capacity too.
It makes me really sad to think of him in this narrative, as someone who made a deal with the devil to give him confidence, energy, power, and free him from physical pain in order to go all out like that night after night after night, but probably knowing somewhere in his heart that each night was stealing a night off his life.
It's a reminder that we are all human with our human limits.
posted by latkes at 9:06 PM on April 29, 2016 [2 favorites]
When I hear about these crazy marathon shows he was playing in his late 50s, plus knowing he'd usually play some crazy after party after, well, that's obviously beyond the capacity of most people, and maybe it was beyond his capacity too.
It makes me really sad to think of him in this narrative, as someone who made a deal with the devil to give him confidence, energy, power, and free him from physical pain in order to go all out like that night after night after night, but probably knowing somewhere in his heart that each night was stealing a night off his life.
It's a reminder that we are all human with our human limits.
posted by latkes at 9:06 PM on April 29, 2016 [2 favorites]
Even so, I don't think it would imply a deal with the devil. Assuming he started innocently, say from recovery from an injury, long-term opiate use brings with it tolerance problems that can and do kill anybody.
posted by rhizome at 9:16 PM on April 29, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by rhizome at 9:16 PM on April 29, 2016 [2 favorites]
There is audio of that last concert in Atlanta on Mixcloud.
posted by valetta at 1:22 AM on April 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by valetta at 1:22 AM on April 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
Also, here is the playlist for tonight's Prince special on Australian ABC TV's Rage.
posted by valetta at 2:23 AM on April 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by valetta at 2:23 AM on April 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
When I hear about these crazy marathon shows he was playing in his late 50s, plus knowing he'd usually play some crazy after party after, well, that's obviously beyond the capacity of most people, and maybe it was beyond his capacity too.
Bruce Springsteen does the same thing at nearly a decade older, and has been famous for thirty-plus years for being a physical fitness (particularly endurance) freak for exactly the reason that it lets him do the same thing. It's not difficult to imagine Prince seeing that and thinking "Yeah, I gotta do that stuff too." He is, after all, famously good at basketball, which would be a good side effect.
posted by Etrigan at 4:02 AM on April 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
Bruce Springsteen does the same thing at nearly a decade older, and has been famous for thirty-plus years for being a physical fitness (particularly endurance) freak for exactly the reason that it lets him do the same thing. It's not difficult to imagine Prince seeing that and thinking "Yeah, I gotta do that stuff too." He is, after all, famously good at basketball, which would be a good side effect.
posted by Etrigan at 4:02 AM on April 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
Unfortunately physical ailments and age don't hit people the same way. It's not possible to say person x is doing okay so why can't person y do the same? And I think Prince's physicality was an entirely different and punishing performance than Springsteen. Or most performers, period. Which is of course why he's so beloved. But yeah, jumping into the splits on the regular l and similar punishing moves is probably not going to treat you kindly in old age. Never mind the heals, which from all accounts were a permanent fixture.
I see the narrative coming out is likely going to be Prince died of a drug addiction and that opiates kill. And to the latter, I can't help but think "no, pain kills." I've seen the sentiment echoed elsewhere too, but doubt that will be the mainstream narrative.
This Guardian article sums up the story that is emerging. It could turn out to be wrong, but there is a lot of consistency about the Percocet OD narrative.
There seems to be conflicting stories about his need of a hip surgery; some saying he had hip surgery around 2009 or 2010, and that's what started him on Percocet. The other being that he needed hip surgery but refused it as a Jehovah's Witness due to the possibility of blood transfusions. I hope it's not the latter; that would be incredibly tragic. Or at least crank up the tragedy level.
I do wonder if the format of his later appearances and shows were to address the physicality. You could see that recent liver performances didn't have nearly the dancing (no surprise and I don't think anyone would expect it) but even the Piano and a Microphone format of the shows he was doing right before he died could have been a way of trying to stay out there and reducing the physical demand.
If the narrative that's coming to light is true, it's really horrible that no one intervened. Or was able to intervene in a meaningful way. He had an entourage of people that were with him and he had one brush with overdosing less than a week prior. I wonder if him being such a private person helped lead to a situation where this could happen.
posted by [insert clever name here] at 8:17 AM on April 30, 2016
I see the narrative coming out is likely going to be Prince died of a drug addiction and that opiates kill. And to the latter, I can't help but think "no, pain kills." I've seen the sentiment echoed elsewhere too, but doubt that will be the mainstream narrative.
This Guardian article sums up the story that is emerging. It could turn out to be wrong, but there is a lot of consistency about the Percocet OD narrative.
There seems to be conflicting stories about his need of a hip surgery; some saying he had hip surgery around 2009 or 2010, and that's what started him on Percocet. The other being that he needed hip surgery but refused it as a Jehovah's Witness due to the possibility of blood transfusions. I hope it's not the latter; that would be incredibly tragic. Or at least crank up the tragedy level.
I do wonder if the format of his later appearances and shows were to address the physicality. You could see that recent liver performances didn't have nearly the dancing (no surprise and I don't think anyone would expect it) but even the Piano and a Microphone format of the shows he was doing right before he died could have been a way of trying to stay out there and reducing the physical demand.
If the narrative that's coming to light is true, it's really horrible that no one intervened. Or was able to intervene in a meaningful way. He had an entourage of people that were with him and he had one brush with overdosing less than a week prior. I wonder if him being such a private person helped lead to a situation where this could happen.
posted by [insert clever name here] at 8:17 AM on April 30, 2016
And having unlimited money means never having to keep anyone around who questions you. Tragically. We all need people to call us out.
posted by latkes at 9:24 AM on April 30, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by latkes at 9:24 AM on April 30, 2016 [5 favorites]
DMSR live in Detroit.
Has anyone written about the idea that Prince may have been trans?
posted by latkes at 9:46 AM on April 30, 2016
Has anyone written about the idea that Prince may have been trans?
posted by latkes at 9:46 AM on April 30, 2016
Why do you think that, latkes? I read a lot of stuff by trans people, mostly trans men, and that's never come up. There are plenty of cis guys his height. Or do you mean that Prince is a trans woman? Because he wore heels and "feminine" clothing?
posted by AFABulous at 10:21 AM on April 30, 2016
posted by AFABulous at 10:21 AM on April 30, 2016
And having unlimited money means never having to keep anyone around who questions you.
I get the impression that Prince didn't do anything he didn't want to and it's been that way for years.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 10:38 AM on April 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
I get the impression that Prince didn't do anything he didn't want to and it's been that way for years.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 10:38 AM on April 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
No, I wonder given Prince's exploration of gender expression if he would have identified as trans, had he been perhaps born in a different time or place. Or if perhaps he did see himself that way. Pure speculation on my part but he certainly was outside a narrowly defined expression of masculinity.
posted by latkes at 11:14 AM on April 30, 2016
posted by latkes at 11:14 AM on April 30, 2016
Doing gender role policing under the guise of "gosh, maybe they were trans" is tiresome and annoying. As someone who isn't interested in traditional feminine behavior but likes my girl parts and using them just fine, let me tell you they are not the same thing.
It's obnoxious as hell whether it is coming from Southern Baptists who think if you don't perform to an artificial construct of your gender that you are going to hell, or so-called progressives who have decided that if you don't perform to an artificial construct of your gender that you must want to be a different gender.
posted by tavella at 11:21 AM on April 30, 2016 [12 favorites]
It's obnoxious as hell whether it is coming from Southern Baptists who think if you don't perform to an artificial construct of your gender that you are going to hell, or so-called progressives who have decided that if you don't perform to an artificial construct of your gender that you must want to be a different gender.
posted by tavella at 11:21 AM on April 30, 2016 [12 favorites]
He was unabashedly male.
Lisa: He was little and kinda prissy and everything. But he's so not gay.
Wendy: He's a girl, for sure, but he's not gay. He looked at me like a gay woman would look at another woman.
Lisa: Totally. He's like a fancy lesbian.
Wendy: I remember being at that Sexuality video shoot and him on stage with that little black jacket and that tie thing around his neck and his black pants with white buttons on the side. And we looked at each other for the first time and I thought, Oh, I could so fall in love with that girl easy. It doesn't matter what sexuality, gender you are. You're in the room with him and he gives you that look and you're like, Okay, I'm done. Its over. He's Casanova. He's Valentino.
posted by effbot at 11:47 AM on April 30, 2016 [3 favorites]
Lisa: He was little and kinda prissy and everything. But he's so not gay.
Wendy: He's a girl, for sure, but he's not gay. He looked at me like a gay woman would look at another woman.
Lisa: Totally. He's like a fancy lesbian.
Wendy: I remember being at that Sexuality video shoot and him on stage with that little black jacket and that tie thing around his neck and his black pants with white buttons on the side. And we looked at each other for the first time and I thought, Oh, I could so fall in love with that girl easy. It doesn't matter what sexuality, gender you are. You're in the room with him and he gives you that look and you're like, Okay, I'm done. Its over. He's Casanova. He's Valentino.
posted by effbot at 11:47 AM on April 30, 2016 [3 favorites]
Let's not let increasing awareness of and support for trans rights have the perverse result of pushing us back to rigid and stereotypical notions of what it means to be a man or woman.
posted by Alluring Mouthbreather at 11:49 AM on April 30, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by Alluring Mouthbreather at 11:49 AM on April 30, 2016 [5 favorites]
Using drugs that would enable you to live the lifestyle Prince led at the risk of shortening your life seems like a rational decision to me, not a "deal with the devil." Is rock climbing or hang gliding a deal with the devil?
posted by straight at 11:49 AM on April 30, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by straight at 11:49 AM on April 30, 2016 [3 favorites]
Statements from 3rdeyegirl members: Donna Grantis, Ida Kristine Nielsen, Hanna Welton, and Joshua Welton.
posted by effbot at 11:56 AM on April 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by effbot at 11:56 AM on April 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
Sigh. I am butch, queer, and gender queer (to use a phrase I don't really identify with but is an easy shorthand). No one on metafilter knows much about Prince's gender identity. I am not gender policing him. If he identified as a man, I admire his bold bending of masculine rules. And at the same time, his willingness to not only dress in ways that only women are supposed to, but also to openly explore the idea of being a woman in his art makes me wonder if he was trans. There's nothing transphobic or gender policing to wonder that. But if there are trans women here who feel what I said was problematic, I apologize and welcome their feedback.
posted by latkes at 12:06 PM on April 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by latkes at 12:06 PM on April 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
I think I get what you're getting at, and I can see claiming trans for him making sense as a deconstruction, but I don't think it goes beyond them sharing certain minor terms of definition. You don't mention transvestic possiblities, which historically are often hetero, and since queer is not synonymous with LGBT there is a bit of a missing middle in the story.
posted by rhizome at 12:22 PM on April 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by rhizome at 12:22 PM on April 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
Using drugs that would enable you to live the lifestyle Prince led at the risk of shortening your life seems like a rational decision to me, not a "deal with the devil."
Thanks for making this point. I have and used to have a few medical conditions that produce chronic pain, which is fortunately mostly, fairly, usually tolerably manageable, for the moment. And that is a great gift because pain can often be impossible or very difficult to treat effectively over the long haul. A couple medications I'm on right now (extremely mild immunosuppressives and NSAID) to manage pain and slow down irreparable joint degeneration could directly or indirectly kill me any minute. Them's the breaks. Making ongoing cost/benefit/risk assessments about stuff like that is just part of dealing with chronic health conditions.
I mean, if the FDA would give people access to Darvocet again as long as they signed a waiver saying, "Yes, I realize that this drug could possibly induce a fatal arrythmia, but I want to take it when I need to anyway because it improves the quality of my life," millions of rational people would be all over that action for perfectly valid reasons.
posted by FelliniBlank at 12:33 PM on April 30, 2016 [5 favorites]
Thanks for making this point. I have and used to have a few medical conditions that produce chronic pain, which is fortunately mostly, fairly, usually tolerably manageable, for the moment. And that is a great gift because pain can often be impossible or very difficult to treat effectively over the long haul. A couple medications I'm on right now (extremely mild immunosuppressives and NSAID) to manage pain and slow down irreparable joint degeneration could directly or indirectly kill me any minute. Them's the breaks. Making ongoing cost/benefit/risk assessments about stuff like that is just part of dealing with chronic health conditions.
I mean, if the FDA would give people access to Darvocet again as long as they signed a waiver saying, "Yes, I realize that this drug could possibly induce a fatal arrythmia, but I want to take it when I need to anyway because it improves the quality of my life," millions of rational people would be all over that action for perfectly valid reasons.
posted by FelliniBlank at 12:33 PM on April 30, 2016 [5 favorites]
I like the idea of someone meeting Satan at the crossroads and asking for a hang glider. Satan looking around, not even seeing any good cliffs to launch from, shaking his damn head.
posted by cortex at 12:34 PM on April 30, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by cortex at 12:34 PM on April 30, 2016 [5 favorites]
every day I feel more lonely for him
me too. as another of my faves once said, Heaven is 10 zillion light years away.
posted by sallybrown at 12:52 PM on April 30, 2016 [3 favorites]
me too. as another of my faves once said, Heaven is 10 zillion light years away.
posted by sallybrown at 12:52 PM on April 30, 2016 [3 favorites]
A lot of my trans friends kept sharing a photoset of him with the lyrics "I'm not a woman, I'm not a man, I'm something that you will never understand" and discussed him as being one of the first genderfluid people that became popular. So the discussion about his possible transness is also coming from trans people.
posted by divabat at 4:57 PM on April 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by divabat at 4:57 PM on April 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
I can't help but think the drugs narrative is lazy tabloiding gonna tabloid. I remember the 1999 years when fans just assumed he was high as a kite. All of those concerts, all of those events, he's together, clear-eyed, and as has been stated a little bit here, often transcendent.
That doesn't say long-term opiate addiction at all. Keith Richards - who, to be fair, has his moments - that's long-term opioid addiction. Some random "long time drug dealer" talking about selling him massive amounts of oxy and fentanyl patches, man, c'mon. Bullshit.
Percocet OD, I'll leave there, shit happens. I hope not. But he was clean and "had [his] head on straight" for almost all that time. The hundreds of intricate killer songs and work, work, work - doesn't add up to anything but clean and healthy afaict.
posted by petebest at 5:08 PM on April 30, 2016 [3 favorites]
That doesn't say long-term opiate addiction at all. Keith Richards - who, to be fair, has his moments - that's long-term opioid addiction. Some random "long time drug dealer" talking about selling him massive amounts of oxy and fentanyl patches, man, c'mon. Bullshit.
Percocet OD, I'll leave there, shit happens. I hope not. But he was clean and "had [his] head on straight" for almost all that time. The hundreds of intricate killer songs and work, work, work - doesn't add up to anything but clean and healthy afaict.
posted by petebest at 5:08 PM on April 30, 2016 [3 favorites]
petebest, I agree with you, mostly. I really think the stories trickling in that he was in considerable pain, and that was the reason he was using the Percocet. An attorney that currently or previously (probably previously) said something similar- he didn't 'do' drugs, if he was taking something, it was for a medical condition.
I have chronic pain that is managed with an opiate painkiller, so this narrative rings true to me. Especially as opposed to use as an addict. I suppose he could have been a recreational user until recently- unfortunately that happens too. But between what Sheila E. said (hips and knees) and other undisclosed but seemingly unrelated sources said about his hips (surgery, not surgery?)
Unfortunately, many people see chronic use of opiates of any kind as a vice and moral failing, even when doctor prescribed and used as directed. I'd argue those people have had real pain, but that's my bias speaking. I'd rather not take an opiate, simply due to the stigma. But I'd rather not be in pain more. I can get up and live a semi-normal life with it and not at all without.
I saw a report today that he had recently entered into an outpatient program to try and manage his pain without painkillers. We'll see if it holds up. But if true, it adds an extra twist of the knife to this tragedy.
posted by [insert clever name here] at 5:59 PM on April 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
I have chronic pain that is managed with an opiate painkiller, so this narrative rings true to me. Especially as opposed to use as an addict. I suppose he could have been a recreational user until recently- unfortunately that happens too. But between what Sheila E. said (hips and knees) and other undisclosed but seemingly unrelated sources said about his hips (surgery, not surgery?)
Unfortunately, many people see chronic use of opiates of any kind as a vice and moral failing, even when doctor prescribed and used as directed. I'd argue those people have had real pain, but that's my bias speaking. I'd rather not take an opiate, simply due to the stigma. But I'd rather not be in pain more. I can get up and live a semi-normal life with it and not at all without.
I saw a report today that he had recently entered into an outpatient program to try and manage his pain without painkillers. We'll see if it holds up. But if true, it adds an extra twist of the knife to this tragedy.
posted by [insert clever name here] at 5:59 PM on April 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
Helen Mirren at the White House Correspondents' Dinner
posted by sallybrown at 6:46 PM on April 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by sallybrown at 6:46 PM on April 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
[insert clever name here], that is some funny shit. "Cufflinks like this cost money" indeed.
posted by irisclara at 7:55 PM on April 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by irisclara at 7:55 PM on April 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
The Legend of Prince’s Special Custom-Font Symbol Floppy Disks
Download Prince's Love Symbol Font
The downloaded font looks identical to the original, but for some reason mapped the symbol to S instead of P. Tempting to fix it since P is where it belongs.
posted by honestcoyote at 9:40 PM on April 30, 2016 [7 favorites]
Download Prince's Love Symbol Font
The downloaded font looks identical to the original, but for some reason mapped the symbol to S instead of P. Tempting to fix it since P is where it belongs.
posted by honestcoyote at 9:40 PM on April 30, 2016 [7 favorites]
I would kind of like to have The Love Symbol as a tattoo somewhere. I have always liked it
posted by weretable and the undead chairs at 12:46 AM on May 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by weretable and the undead chairs at 12:46 AM on May 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
Thank you, adamvasco. Anyone who hasn't checked out that cover of "Motherless Child" should waste no time to do so. It's amazing.
If you scroll down into the comments, there are a couple of other great clips.
"It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night (1987)" and the full 37 minute show that the "Motherless Child" clip is taken from -- super funky 1999 (both on YouTube).
Download this ASAP, who knows how long it will last.
posted by msalt at 3:06 AM on May 1, 2016 [6 favorites]
If you scroll down into the comments, there are a couple of other great clips.
"It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night (1987)" and the full 37 minute show that the "Motherless Child" clip is taken from -- super funky 1999 (both on YouTube).
Download this ASAP, who knows how long it will last.
posted by msalt at 3:06 AM on May 1, 2016 [6 favorites]
Holy crap that Beautiful Night clip is crazy. He was such an athlete. Then he's like, "let me just play drums for a while"... who is the woman in the see-through white half bodysuit with the... rapping?
posted by latkes at 10:53 AM on May 1, 2016
posted by latkes at 10:53 AM on May 1, 2016
Then he's like, "let me just play drums for a while"... who is the woman in the see-through white half bodysuit with the... rapping?
I bet you can guess if you put two and two together.
˙Ǝ ɐlᴉǝɥS s,ʇI :∀
posted by Sys Rq at 11:07 AM on May 1, 2016
I bet you can guess if you put two and two together.
˙Ǝ ɐlᴉǝɥS s,ʇI :∀
posted by Sys Rq at 11:07 AM on May 1, 2016
Thanks for those "Face Down" clips, valetta. "Arkham Houseparty" has a whole series of YouTube clips including sub-series such as Best TV Appearances, Ultimate Live, and even Bad TV Appearances. All great stuff.
posted by msalt at 2:29 PM on May 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by msalt at 2:29 PM on May 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
Cheers msalt, and thank you back - I've been relishing Arkham Houseparty's fabulous Ultimate Live uploads but hadn't noticed the Best/Bad TV Appearances.
posted by valetta at 4:11 PM on May 1, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by valetta at 4:11 PM on May 1, 2016 [2 favorites]
Apologies, but this thread does seem to be missing this Animaniacs bit.
posted by Mezentian at 4:01 AM on May 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Mezentian at 4:01 AM on May 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
Sinead O'Connor suggests authorities investigate Arsenio Hall in Prince's death. (not a joke)
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:32 PM on May 3, 2016
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:32 PM on May 3, 2016
75-year old North Dakota farmer plows Prince's symbol into a field. "I always liked the song 'Purple Rain'", he said.
Not all musicians have that kind of fanbase.
posted by petebest at 4:14 PM on May 3, 2016 [16 favorites]
Not all musicians have that kind of fanbase.
posted by petebest at 4:14 PM on May 3, 2016 [16 favorites]
“Prince's 'Nothing Compares 2 U' Will Be Simulcast on Radio Stations Nationwide on Wednesday,” Gary Trust, Billboard, 03 May 2016
posted by ob1quixote at 12:39 AM on May 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
KCMP, and others, will air Prince's recording of "Nothing" at exactly 5:07 p.m. CT (6:07 ET/3:07 PT) tomorrow. Why that moment? It marks "7 hours and 13 days" since Prince's April 21 passing, referencing the song's famous opening lyric. "It's been 7 hours and 13 days, since you took your love away," Prince's version begins. "I go out every night and sleep all day, since you took your love away …"Cf. “Prince's 'Purple Rain' Is Week's Top-Selling Song Again, as Eight of His Hits Chart on Hot 100,” Id., 02 May 2016
posted by ob1quixote at 12:39 AM on May 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
5:07PM CT May 4th converted worldwide and countdown.
posted by divabat at 2:15 AM on May 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by divabat at 2:15 AM on May 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
“A radio tribute to the incomparable Prince,” The Current, 03 May 2016
posted by ob1quixote at 4:18 AM on May 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
KEXP (Seattle), WXPN (Philadelphia), WFUV (New York), KKXT (Dallas), KUTX (Austin), and Radio Milwaukee are among the stations who have already signed on for the simulcast. Other radio stations of any format are encouraged to blanket the airwaves with the song.P.S. Looking over the hashtag at least a couple more stations have signed on. If worse comes to worst, you can listen via the web with TuneIn, iHeartRadio, or The Current's website.
posted by ob1quixote at 4:18 AM on May 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
It marks "7 hours and 13 days" since Prince's April 21 passing, referencing the song's famous opening lyric.
Er, except the opening lyric is 'It's been seven hours and fifteen days...'
Of course, there are released versions/cover versions with 'fourteen days', and 'thirteen days', and bootlegged live versions with all three, and one of the times I saw him do it live he ad-libbed a soul-piercing falsetto howl that sounded like 'so many-many-many days now baby'… but the original, canonical lyric is 100% definitely 'fifteen'. I mean, there is just no sodding way Prince would let Paul Peterson get away with messing up the opening line, and we know he was following Prince's guide vocals from the demos. Jesus. Idiots.
Sorry, I think I've reached the irrational anger stage of Princegreif - I actually shouted at someone yesterday for suggesting that bog-standard-for-Prince 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' solo was his finest moment.
posted by jack_mo at 6:30 AM on May 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Er, except the opening lyric is 'It's been seven hours and fifteen days...'
Of course, there are released versions/cover versions with 'fourteen days', and 'thirteen days', and bootlegged live versions with all three, and one of the times I saw him do it live he ad-libbed a soul-piercing falsetto howl that sounded like 'so many-many-many days now baby'… but the original, canonical lyric is 100% definitely 'fifteen'. I mean, there is just no sodding way Prince would let Paul Peterson get away with messing up the opening line, and we know he was following Prince's guide vocals from the demos. Jesus. Idiots.
Sorry, I think I've reached the irrational anger stage of Princegreif - I actually shouted at someone yesterday for suggesting that bog-standard-for-Prince 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' solo was his finest moment.
posted by jack_mo at 6:30 AM on May 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
jack_mo: Apparently the original version by Prince has "13 days", it was Sinead that made it 15 days.
posted by divabat at 10:19 AM on May 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by divabat at 10:19 AM on May 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
The Minneapolis Star Tribune: Prince died amid frantic plans for drug addiction treatment. California doctor specializing in opioid addiction had been called to help with a 'grave medical emergency.'
posted by homunculus at 2:02 PM on May 4, 2016
posted by homunculus at 2:02 PM on May 4, 2016
California doctor
So Prince requests medical intervention from Calfornia-based addictions specialist Howard Kornfeld, not licensed to practice medicine in the State of Minnesota. Dr Kornfeld is many hours away, in California. Says can't see patient immediately. Does not refer to local services or call EMS. Sends his son Andrew Kornfeld to Minnesota with a backpack of buprenorphine. Not an MD/DO or licensed in Minnesota, Kornfeld Jr is a "pre-med" student. He made 911 call, is found by body with backpack, still with the DEA Schedule III buprenorphine inside. The wise words of Doug Stanhope apply here.
posted by meehawl at 11:01 PM on May 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
So Prince requests medical intervention from Calfornia-based addictions specialist Howard Kornfeld, not licensed to practice medicine in the State of Minnesota. Dr Kornfeld is many hours away, in California. Says can't see patient immediately. Does not refer to local services or call EMS. Sends his son Andrew Kornfeld to Minnesota with a backpack of buprenorphine. Not an MD/DO or licensed in Minnesota, Kornfeld Jr is a "pre-med" student. He made 911 call, is found by body with backpack, still with the DEA Schedule III buprenorphine inside. The wise words of Doug Stanhope apply here.
posted by meehawl at 11:01 PM on May 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Apparently the original version by Prince has "13 days", it was Sinead that made it 15 days.
That's not right - I have The Family LP right here, and it's unambiguously a 'fifteen'.
Also, there is no 'original version by Prince', really - Prince wrote and produced the song for The Family's album in '84, Sinead O'Connor covered that album track, using the 'fifteen' from the original.
Prince didn't perform the song live until 1990, and didn't release a version of it until '94 - the live duet with Rosie Gaines on The Hits compilations, which has 'thirteen'. There's another officially released Prince version, from the concert video Rave Un2 the Year 2000 which I think is a 'fifteen', but I don't own a VHS player to check my copy! I have bootleg live versions with thirteen and fifteen; live, I've heard him ad-lib completely different number-free lyrics, and do it with a 'seventeen' (which made everyone go nuts, thinking he'd do '17 Days' later in the gig, but it was just a little Princetease).
There's almost certainly a demo version by Prince (or even a full studio version) from '84 locked in the vault too - which I would bet any money has 'fifteen', because, you know, he's a massive control freak - but I don't think it was ever leaked.
I realise that none of this matters in any way whatsoever, but the original lyric is 'fifteen', that was the only lyric for the first decade or so of the song's life, it's the word used in the most famous (not to mention best!) version, and in my experience it's the word that crowds sing at Prince gigs, whatever Prince decides to sing on the night...
posted by jack_mo at 7:39 AM on May 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
That's not right - I have The Family LP right here, and it's unambiguously a 'fifteen'.
Also, there is no 'original version by Prince', really - Prince wrote and produced the song for The Family's album in '84, Sinead O'Connor covered that album track, using the 'fifteen' from the original.
Prince didn't perform the song live until 1990, and didn't release a version of it until '94 - the live duet with Rosie Gaines on The Hits compilations, which has 'thirteen'. There's another officially released Prince version, from the concert video Rave Un2 the Year 2000 which I think is a 'fifteen', but I don't own a VHS player to check my copy! I have bootleg live versions with thirteen and fifteen; live, I've heard him ad-lib completely different number-free lyrics, and do it with a 'seventeen' (which made everyone go nuts, thinking he'd do '17 Days' later in the gig, but it was just a little Princetease).
There's almost certainly a demo version by Prince (or even a full studio version) from '84 locked in the vault too - which I would bet any money has 'fifteen', because, you know, he's a massive control freak - but I don't think it was ever leaked.
I realise that none of this matters in any way whatsoever, but the original lyric is 'fifteen', that was the only lyric for the first decade or so of the song's life, it's the word used in the most famous (not to mention best!) version, and in my experience it's the word that crowds sing at Prince gigs, whatever Prince decides to sing on the night...
posted by jack_mo at 7:39 AM on May 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
Oh, the original version is on YouTube - I'm too used to Prince scrubbing everything!
Someone's uploaded all the available Prince demos for The Family, too - no 'Nothing Compares 2 U' (nor 'The Screams of Passion') but you can hear how closely the released versions follow Prince's first takes.
posted by jack_mo at 7:47 AM on May 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Someone's uploaded all the available Prince demos for The Family, too - no 'Nothing Compares 2 U' (nor 'The Screams of Passion') but you can hear how closely the released versions follow Prince's first takes.
posted by jack_mo at 7:47 AM on May 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
The initial consonant in the original Family version is a little ambiguous, but there's an "r" in there - it sounds a bit like "firteen."
posted by larrybob at 10:54 AM on May 5, 2016
posted by larrybob at 10:54 AM on May 5, 2016
If it's a celebration... Why Not Both?
posted by clawsoon at 10:57 AM on May 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by clawsoon at 10:57 AM on May 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
It's probably firteen. Prince had access to numbers the rest of us don't know about.
posted by prize bull octorok at 11:11 AM on May 5, 2016 [16 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 11:11 AM on May 5, 2016 [16 favorites]
From The Current, Prince Remembered: A podcast about his music, life and legacy Lots of short interviews.
posted by ZeusHumms at 11:37 AM on May 5, 2016
posted by ZeusHumms at 11:37 AM on May 5, 2016
BRB making "firteen" memorial tshirts. Stump everyone at the record swap!
posted by rhizome at 12:07 PM on May 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by rhizome at 12:07 PM on May 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
This is a bit of an aside, but I can't figure out the legality of Kornfield basically saying the Prince was his patient. The confidentiality regulations around substance abuse stuff (42 CFR Part 2) are much more strict than HIPAA. I don't think death undoes that.
posted by OmieWise at 12:10 PM on May 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by OmieWise at 12:10 PM on May 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm highly skeptical of the whole story, as anybody should be when people emerge from the woodwork purporting to tell the real story. This is all hinging on a not-doctor and their assistant?
posted by rhizome at 12:13 PM on May 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by rhizome at 12:13 PM on May 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
There are two Kornfelds in this story. There is Howard Kornfeld, a MD who released a statement through his lawyer about this, and his son, Andrew Kornfeld, a not-doctor, who purportedly made the 911 call. So I think you are confusing the not-doctor and the assistant. They are the same person.
posted by OmieWise at 12:24 PM on May 5, 2016
posted by OmieWise at 12:24 PM on May 5, 2016
My mistake, but my skepticism stands. After Conrad Murray, why would any doctor stick their neck out like this if they're actually involved?
posted by rhizome at 12:32 PM on May 5, 2016
posted by rhizome at 12:32 PM on May 5, 2016
And getting their kid involved too, especially carrying quasi-legal drugs (at least, I assume Kornfeld doesn't have prescribing rights in Minnesota if he's not licensed there.)
posted by tavella at 12:48 PM on May 5, 2016
posted by tavella at 12:48 PM on May 5, 2016
Interesting to hear about the role that arts education played in Prince's formative years: Dancers recall Prince as a hard-working 'darling' in tights and ballet slippers
posted by larrybob at 2:26 PM on May 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by larrybob at 2:26 PM on May 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Prince plays on Arsenio Hall, 1991. Awesome show.
posted by ZeusHumms at 4:30 PM on May 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 4:30 PM on May 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
Streaming now!
Tune in to KEXP 90.3 FM on Friday, May 6th from 2:00 to 6:00 PM PT to hear Prince as you have never heard him before. Listen as KEXP Afternoon Show host Kevin Cole pays tribute with Nothing Compares 2 U: A Celebration of the Life and Music of Prince.posted by juliplease at 4:02 PM on May 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Prince's personal photographer's goodbye shot. Beautiful and haunting. He looks like he knew things were going somewhere else. (And a little like . . . Tesla? Somehow?) She says he communicated goodbye to her differently than ever before.
*buys a Dunk-a-roo*
posted by petebest at 6:37 PM on May 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
*buys a Dunk-a-roo*
posted by petebest at 6:37 PM on May 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
Elvis, Hank, and(?) Prince
(And the 27 club)
Shutup! Already. Damn.
posted by petebest at 6:55 PM on May 6, 2016
(And the 27 club)
Shutup! Already. Damn.
posted by petebest at 6:55 PM on May 6, 2016
Photographer was a woman, production engineer was a woman, numerous women band members over the years, and never just set dressing - he hired and surrounded himself with these incredibly competent women artists - it's so impressive. I can't think of another successful male artist who hired so many women.
posted by latkes at 12:21 PM on May 7, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by latkes at 12:21 PM on May 7, 2016 [12 favorites]
Kevin Cole (mentioned above), now a DJ at KEXP in Seattle, was a DJ at First Avenue during Prince's rise. You can listen to an archive stream of his Friday show, at least for a few more days.
posted by larrybob at 12:55 PM on May 9, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by larrybob at 12:55 PM on May 9, 2016 [3 favorites]
Zooey Deschannel was on Conan earlier this week and shared a great story about that episode with Prince
posted by numaner at 10:45 AM on May 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by numaner at 10:45 AM on May 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm obsessing about this issue but.....
Watched Purple Rain again last night and yes there is obvious sexism and battering presented in a stupid and misogynist way and Apollonia spends the entire movie in a teddy but.... one of the central "plot" points is Prince learning to value the songwriting abilities of his female bandmates. Which for the 80s is like, pretty radical.
posted by latkes at 11:42 AM on May 11, 2016 [3 favorites]
Watched Purple Rain again last night and yes there is obvious sexism and battering presented in a stupid and misogynist way and Apollonia spends the entire movie in a teddy but.... one of the central "plot" points is Prince learning to value the songwriting abilities of his female bandmates. Which for the 80s is like, pretty radical.
posted by latkes at 11:42 AM on May 11, 2016 [3 favorites]
one of the central "plot" points is Prince learning to value the songwriting abilities of his female bandmates.
Yeah, one of my favorite moments in the whole movie is when they're doing that epic performance of "Purple Rain", and they're in the last riff towards the end - and at some point The Kid ends up standing next to Wendy, who's at the keyboards. They're both playing, and keep doing that "glancing at each other, but are too overcome with emotion and can't look each other in the face" thing; Wendy is choking up, as well. And after a few seconds of that, The Kid finally kisses her on the cheek as a thanks, and she has to try even harder to fight back tears, and then he comes downstage and rips into the grand finale.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:15 PM on May 11, 2016 [4 favorites]
Yeah, one of my favorite moments in the whole movie is when they're doing that epic performance of "Purple Rain", and they're in the last riff towards the end - and at some point The Kid ends up standing next to Wendy, who's at the keyboards. They're both playing, and keep doing that "glancing at each other, but are too overcome with emotion and can't look each other in the face" thing; Wendy is choking up, as well. And after a few seconds of that, The Kid finally kisses her on the cheek as a thanks, and she has to try even harder to fight back tears, and then he comes downstage and rips into the grand finale.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:15 PM on May 11, 2016 [4 favorites]
Totally. And then him ripping into the finale is him jizzing on the audience with his jizz guitar and a coy smile on his face! There is some major sexual surrealism in that movie.
posted by latkes at 4:54 PM on May 11, 2016
posted by latkes at 4:54 PM on May 11, 2016
Oh, no, the jizz-tar is the encore. After he does that last "woo-hoo-hoo-oo" bit in "Purple Rain" he tears off the stage and runs to hide in the dressing room, just overcome, all alone. But then he gradually hears that the audience in the house is going berserk with applause, and he does a triumphant walk back to the stage - through a crowd of other cheering musicians that have all magically assembled, including Morris Day, who gives him a grudging nod - and comes to rejoin the band, as the crowd goes wild. And THEN he and the band go into "I Would Die 4 U" and "Baby I'm a Star," and at the end of "Baby I'm a Star, " THAT's when he switches to the jizz-tar and then there's that last shot of him looking over his shoulder at the camera, freeze frame, roll credits.
....yeah I may have seen the film a couple times
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:43 PM on May 11, 2016 [4 favorites]
....yeah I may have seen the film a couple times
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:43 PM on May 11, 2016 [4 favorites]
You're totally right, and I literally just saw this again LAST NIGHT. Middle age brain... sigh.
Anyhow, did people already post all the old concert footage cropping up? Like this '81 Dirty Mind tour footage and the '83 Live at First Avenue footage and the Purple Rain rehearsal footage?
Also, has anyone else gone down a Melvoin Wikipedia Hole like I did last night? Or maybe just learned that "Susan" in Timex Social Club's Rumors was Prince's girlfriend and member of Vanity 6/Apollonia 6?
I don't know, I guess I would have already known this stuff had I been paying as much attention as I should have been to Prince... It's rare that I miss a celebrity the way I'm missing Prince.
posted by latkes at 6:16 PM on May 11, 2016 [4 favorites]
Anyhow, did people already post all the old concert footage cropping up? Like this '81 Dirty Mind tour footage and the '83 Live at First Avenue footage and the Purple Rain rehearsal footage?
Also, has anyone else gone down a Melvoin Wikipedia Hole like I did last night? Or maybe just learned that "Susan" in Timex Social Club's Rumors was Prince's girlfriend and member of Vanity 6/Apollonia 6?
I don't know, I guess I would have already known this stuff had I been paying as much attention as I should have been to Prince... It's rare that I miss a celebrity the way I'm missing Prince.
posted by latkes at 6:16 PM on May 11, 2016 [4 favorites]
I'm still missing him...A friend of mine who I had no idea even knew Prince's music just told me she bought some flowers tonight because they were purple and reminded her of Prince. It feels like it's rained every day since he died.
posted by sallybrown at 7:25 PM on May 11, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by sallybrown at 7:25 PM on May 11, 2016 [3 favorites]
Possibly the greatest Prince song you've never heard backs up a skit track on the album Ice Cream Castle, by The Time. Prince produced and arranged the album (as "The Starr ★ Company"), and plays the waiter on the skit ("Ahh, good evening Mr. Tate. Two for dinner?"). Morris is in fine form, of course, and I think the skit is a hoot, but give a listen to the background music on Chili Sauce.
Simply gorgeous, could be a coda to The Beautiful Ones. So long, dear Prince.
posted by Bron at 8:49 PM on May 17, 2016 [2 favorites]
Simply gorgeous, could be a coda to The Beautiful Ones. So long, dear Prince.
posted by Bron at 8:49 PM on May 17, 2016 [2 favorites]
Heh. Former Vanity boyfriend Nikki Sixx kicks Gene in the crotch for disparaging Prince. Man Prince got me to cheer for Nikki Sixx even.
(Nah, he's allright. And Gene is Gene. Whaddyagon'doo.)
posted by petebest at 7:06 PM on May 20, 2016 [3 favorites]
(Nah, he's allright. And Gene is Gene. Whaddyagon'doo.)
posted by petebest at 7:06 PM on May 20, 2016 [3 favorites]
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posted by entropicamericana at 10:22 AM on April 21, 2016 [141 favorites]