Prince Rogers Nelson, 1958-2016

Many times I have amazed people with the knowledge that Prince was his actual given name. Gone too soon for sure.

WTF 2016?

I am absolutely gutted.

Overheard at my job today:

Idiot #1: “So, what’s with this Prince thing? Is that really a loss?”
Idiot #2: “Uh, I think it’s a generational thing.”

I work with morons.

On the other hand, I must say I was pleasantly surprised at the number of people I saw wearing purple today, from the high schoolers walking to class to the attorneys and clerical workers in the county gov’t building and courthouse. The bus stops were a sea of purple: men and women, young and old, white, brown, black, and red.

He transcended.

@TJ/ Jamie Sommers /TJ: There’s a YouTube clip going around of Prince shredding the end of While My Guitar Gently Weeps. What makes it chilling in retrospect is that it’s the George Harrison memorial concert.

Also going around: Clapton was once asked how it felt to be the greatest guitarist alive. “I don’t know”, he said. “Ask Prince.”

My first reaction was David Bowie and now Prince. SMH

He is the first person I remember who wrote a song mentioning HIV. I saw his Love Sexy Tour in Chicago (awesome), and I saw a kind of crap show in Oakland in 2002ish. I’m tired of Purple Rain, but Sign o’ the Times was my thing. Starfish and Coffee after the Housequake.

@nojo: Yes. That is one of my favorite videos.

Well, this is going to be wildly unpopular, but my favorite Prince album is Parade/Under the Cherry Moon. The album is just stunning and timeless from beginning to end, and I still listen to it regularly at the gym, especially Mountains which is one of the greatest songs of all time sin duda. Hit play and jam it to the max. Also: New Position; I Wonder U; Girls & Boys; Kiss; Anotherloverholenyohead.

Loved the movie, too. I saw it on VHS, maybe in 1989 when I was 14. So glamorous and retro-deco stylish–I’d never seen a visual feast like it. And introducing Kristin Scott Thomas–Wow!

Silent Creative Partner reminds me that his dad beat up Prince (then known as Roger Nelson) in high school. No exceptional reason.

@¡Andrew!: ¡I love that album!

I just wish dude didn’t make movies.

Mountains and Anotherlover are my favorites.

I also love 7 (apologies for linking to fucking perez) and Diamonds and Pearls.

ETA: Ah – and Alphabet Street. “A…B…C…” <- It took me a very long time to figure out this line.

@nojo: I have no idea why I find this awesome.