Whenever a legendary superstar passes, like Prince, it hits us hard. Even if we wonder why we grieve someone we don’t personally know, I’m telling you, we do. Music is an expressive form of communication. By sharing his artistry, he was telling us about himself in more ways than we can even understand. By communicating through music, we know him on a very deep level. This is why we grieve.
Music is healing, It is therapy. It is emotional, and fun, and is there for us at the most important times of our life. It’s a common language of intention and interpretation. It’s heartbeat. In Prince’s case: it’s funky.
I grew up in Minnesota like Prince. He brought a whole new level of dance, glory, color and freedom to my fellow Minnesotans. He shook up a quiet somewhat monotone land with jaw-dropping creativity. He made it acceptable to be different. I looked up to him as a role model of mixed ethnicity in the blond land of lakes. And yes, I ABSOLUTELY bathed in the waters of Lake Minnetonka.
See any resemblance?
Albums like Controversy, Purple Rain, 1999 and Prince’s production group Vanity 6 adorned my eardrums from my sister’s room. She had more purple scarfs, headbands and press on nails than I can count. I remember her conversations about dancing at First Avenue and waiting outside Paisley Park hoping one day I would do the same.
Remember dancing to 1999 imagining what 1999 would really be like? I do.
Our ticket to the show at Madison Square Garden. They lit up the Empire State Building in purple.
I have seen him in Denver, Las Vegas and New York. My husband Ryan passed the test when I told him we are flying from Michigan to New York to see him in concert. Yep, I pretty much ordered it. And he responded… when are we leaving? I purchased the tickets right before our wedding in October. Any man who will embrace the purple one is one I want in my life forever.
My best girlfriends and I even spent my bachelorette party in Vegas, shaking it to the Prince cover band, Purple Reign.
Sadly, I also remember when his infant son died. Our Minnesotan hearts broke for him. Never imagined I might experience this also. Unlike First Avenue, it’s a club you never want to enter.
His son passed from a rare genetic disorder at their home. Those of us touched by baby/infant loss know what it’s like when ‘the world is so cold.’ And this was long before baby loss was openly discussed (…of course we still have a ways to go..). I cannot imagine going through this disenfranchised grief in the public eye.
So he communicated the best way he knew how, incorporating his son’s heartbeat on the track Sex in the Summer. I hope he knows that along with his music, he gave baby/infant loss parents the gift of feeling a tiny bit less alone.
This is all I can say. What can I say?!
Thank you, Prince. I will continue to jam out and get funky. And I will look for your purple star in the sky, missing you terribly.
Love is like the sky, U know it never stops
From the abudance of the heart the mouth speaks
Love is whatever… whatever… U want it 2 b
That was a beautiful tribute… I have learned more about Prince with his passing and one of the things that struck me was his animal rights activism. He was a quiet person and had a compassionate soul. May he RIP.
Indeed Keiko, truly compassionate and humble. Thank you for your lovely comment. <3
This is amazing and the only thing I have read about Prince. Thanks for sharing how it felt to have a Prince sisterhood. It Warms my frozen heart.
I will not go on FB or listen to the radio. My music heart isn’t ready but your writing may have helped me a bit get to a place of some acceptance. I love you sis with all my heart. Thanks for walking down this road of life with me and being a champion to all the baby loss community. You are a purple light to me that shines with our Minnesota Prince forever and ever.