The
true gift of an accomplished musical artist is the ability to capture and pass
on relatable songs musically and especially lyrically. When you catch a song
you haven’t heard in years and you’re able to sing along word for word, beat by
beat it’s indicative of musical genius. It’s also because originally you were
presented with a story, Darling Nikki
or an experience, When Doves Cry with
which you connected. It’s funny that Head
came on my iPod this morning at the gym (save that dirty joke for later) and I
had to catch myself because not only was I dancing along, I’m pretty sure what
I thought was me singing in my head was actually out loud…lets’ just be happy
it wasn’t the more controversial song which follows Head on the Dirty Mind album,
I may have been asked to leave the gym. The artists I appreciate most all have
this talent in common. Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Maurice White and Prince. The
genius is not in just having something to say but in making people want to hear
it…again and again.
There
are so many songs he wrote that touched me it would literally take pages and
pages to fill. I know a lot of people
attribute me with turning them on to Prince but in reality it was my sister
Wanda who gave me that first album, For
You. She had purchased it on a trip to Texas because she liked the single Soft & Wet but wasn’t really feeling
the rest of the album…she would learn to appreciate him in later years. I know
a lot of people didn’t really get that first album but I was hooked from that
point on. I saw him perform at Flippers
Roller Disco (I know) in West
Hollywood in 1979 and our relationship was cemented. I bought every single album
he put out from that moment up to and including the millennium. I was there
with him and the Revolution, the New Power Generation and don’t fool
yourself that first album by the Time
was all Prince… Jamie Starr my ass. I
remained a fan through it all, even when he was releasing albums annually, I
bought them all. No matter the name he used Prince,
the Sign, The Artist Formerly Known As Prince I bought them all.
Over
the years I would see him perform several times. The last time I saw him was
2011 at the Forum in Inglewood when he did his 21 shows. I
was with several friends and we, just like the entire audience were on our feet
from the time he hit the stage through to the end, two solid hours. Each song triggered a different experience from
the past and I found myself racing through a multitude of emotions and memories
trying to keep up. When it was over I was drained but I wanted more. I’m thankful
I got see him that last time and I’m gonna miss him but I refuse to linger in
sadness. For me he’ll live on in the many memories he helped me create through
his music and for that my heart continues to dance and I remain forever grateful.
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
-Prince
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