roxy831 said:

None.

.

But I wish he got the chance to finish the Hit N Run series and get out the Piano Tour album.

.

Those plans were in motion, but it would have been nice if he got to finish those to punctuate his career.

.

luvgirl said:

roxy831 said:

He never heard me say, "I love you, and thank you."

I only wish that he knew how much he was loved by so many. I think he knows now though. Yea, he knows now...

Thanks, luvgirl. I truly hope he does.

I appreciate this thread because it has me identify a nagging regret of mine. I got too caught up with wanting other people to get prince the way I did, so I became too focused on expecting him to make this easy by having digestible albums (not sets), reasonable release patterrns and choices for singles, not having the name change and We are the World backlashes, and not releasing subpar albums so he could get out of his Warner's contract. These and other things seemed to distract others from recognizing from his genuis. It kept me in a critical stance with him despite the amazing gifts that he gave all of us. I now regret that I couldn't Lettitgo! Now I see that I missed the bigger picture. Some of the things I loved most about him outside of his great music such as his his creativity, being unconventional, being true to himslelf and so forth naturally led to some of my above mentioned concerns. Of course he wasn't going to be like any other musical act in the way that he made, sold, and promoted his music! He is orignial in all ways. If he would have been conventional there is no way he could have made the music he did. It would have just been Purple Rain and 10 sequals! Even more, there wouldn't have been a Purple Rain to begin with. The public's distate for all that surrounded him was their limitation, not his! I regret not realizing this sooner!

^

You will like this Gandorb...

I regret that I got so wrapped up in life that I ignored my Ticketmaster notifications of the Man and a Piano tour. I was only 1 1/2 hours away when he gave his last performance. That was definitely a bummer....

Even now I really, REALLY miss him. And I still wish it was an awful practical joke, instead of the harsh reality that has left a gaping hole in my heart.

I also regret that he died alone in that elevator...but maybe that's how he wanted it to be...hmmm.

Connected said:

^

You will like this Gandorb...

Wow, you are so right Connected! You connected me with just the right Utube. Mr. Mayer really got it!

None personally. I made it to the shows I could. I introduced my wife and brother to his music and his genius as a live performer. The music is still very much a part of my life and is part of my kids' lives to an extent now. I think he would like that.

My regrets are for him personally, and they're a bit presumptuous. I regret that he appeared to have so many struggles in his life. So many people entering and exiting. I regret that he was never able to be a long-term father, as I think that would have changed his life and his art tremendously. The man seemed to be endlessly searching for something, which is strangely sad considering how much he accomplished.

One regret I let go of was my perception that he never got over the success and "albatross" of Purple Rain. At least publicly, later in his life, he seemed to accept that and also to be grateful that the PR record, album, and movie gained him access to the lives of so many. I was relieved when he started playing the songs again. It was sad to me when he would say "you've come to the wrong place if you want to get your Purple Rain on tonight". That seemed to fade later in his life as he came to terms with what he had created. Most artists never have a cultural moment like that. Of course, virtually none are able to repeat it, though that's not entirely in their control.

Why did I say my regrets were presumptuous? Well, because I saw the man on stage. And to this day, I've never seen anyone look as happy as Prince looked when he was on stage. Anyplace in life. It's as if he was a open channel while performing. It was pure joy, pure id, pure expression, pure pain at times. But it was so real. And he had so much fun doing it. I watched his performance of Reflection on Tavis with Wendy earlier today. Even Wendy, who isn't prone to public amazement, seemed in awe. Most human beings never get that gift, to have moments where they're doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing. And Prince received that gift thousands of times. So it's a bit weird to hold regrets for a man who was that accomplished and experienced that much happiness, despite all the other pain in his life.

I miss him. But the music is still here. The performances are still here. As a fellow concertgoer told me at 3121, Prince is a legend, man. A legend. And legends never die.

I regret that I did not support him through the inevitable dark times.

And that I did not appreciate what an incredibly gifted and blessed genius/musician/poet/disciple he was.

If only I could turn back time...

1. Not going to see him when he came to Oakland for the Piano and Microphone tour in February. I had no idea that would be his last time in the Bay Area. Stupid me, I thought it would be a little boring with no band backing him
2. Not buying any of his releases after the 90's. I only had Musicology on CD, but that was because it was given away at his concerts. Only since his passing have I bought Lotusflow3r, 3121 & Planet Earth. There's some good music on these discs that I over looked.
3. Selling most of my records when the MP3 age came. Many were kind of beat up because I used them to DJ with, but still I had some hard to find extended 12 inches.

Now I'm busy re-buying records, some at inflated prices on the used market. I'm lucky there's been lots of re-issues and more coming from the 80's and his newer ones like Plectrumelectrum and Art Official Age are still readily available.

I saw him that Saturday prior to his death at Paisley Park.

I saw him and smiled as he was bobbing head to the live version (TIDAL released the next day) of Black Sweat.

Had I known he would die 4 days later I would have told him "we love you, and we want to get you help"

Bunsterdk said:

PeteSilas said:

people always bring up isolation when they talk of superstars but in that way, i just never feel for them in that one particular area. Not because I don't understand that being a star has it's own set of problems but because, in this world, with so many people, millions are alone, dejected, hurt and no one cares. Elvis had millions who would have loved to spend time with him, Prince had millions who would have loved to been around him. I never feel pity for that aspect, I know if no one else loved the guy I did.

Yes, but most have ulterior motives though. Wanting to hook up, wanting money. Or they would be afraid to speak their mind, treating them like a star. I'd definitely be starstruck at first, but just give me enough time to freak out first. LOL I know it's silly, but I just wish he had known. And that's probably more about me than him since he couldn't really use the info as he couldn't know that it was genuine. It sucks. I do believe in the same as him and do expect to meet him someday. In the flesh, not on some cloud somewhere. So I'm trying to focus on that. He's not in any type of pain now and will be happy forever. But even knowing/believing that I never did handle death very well. It's the ultimate abandonment, I guess.

I had a dream right after Prince passed, and we were in this small backstage area with two chairs, and I sat down in front of him and just started asking questions... but it was extremely awkward! Haha. But this was right as I was "getting to know" the man behind the music. Your quote in bold reminded me of my dream. Also, being starstruck reminds me of the New Girl episode where he introduces himself, and they just stare at him, and he says, "Oh, how rude of me. I haven't given you time to freak out yet. You may do so now." This shows me that he was cool with the fact that at first meeting him, most people were starstruck! I don't think he understood why though, of course, because he wanted to be "normal."

tollyc said:

I saw him that Saturday prior to his death at Paisley Park.

I saw him and smiled as he was bobbing head to the live version (TIDAL released the next day) of Black Sweat.

Had I known he would die 4 days later I would have told him "we love you, and we want to get you help"

What an awesome memory with seeing him at his party on the 16th. And I LOVE Black Sweat!

I regret not getting to know the man behind the music before he died. I saw the movie Purple Rain when I was about 11 with my mom who had rented it (I'm 24 now). I didn't understand a lot of the movie's content because I was so young, and I didn't even think twice about him after seeing it. I didn't know what a BIG DEAL Prince was. So, I regret not becoming a fan of and following Prince's music after initially seeing Purple Rain. Which then leads me to regret not ever going to see him perform live. Side note: You've gotta know P is looking down on us now though and saying, "But you guys did enough. You came to see me. You supported my music. You loved me through everything." He definitely knows how much he meant to his friends (fans) now. I just wish I would've been a part of the fan community sooner.

tollyc said:

DarkKnight1 said:

I took him, his constant flow of music and shows for granted. There was always another show. There was always another album. My focus fell off a bit over the last 5-6 year. Sure, I visited the org, bought albums when they came out and always spun a few albums here or there, but that overwhelming excitement for each TV appearance, album and show were not where it used to be. Then he died

I have listened to AOA, PE and the HitNRuns alot since his passing, and i now love them all. I was spoiled and lucky. I have a hole now that will never be filled. I didnt know just how important Prince and his music was to me until he passed.

Yup, this. I still haven't relistened to his recent work (I liked Art Official Age just fine, haaaaaaaaaaaated Hit N Run 1, didn't even bother with HNR 2), so I don't know if it's gone up in my esteem necessarily, but I absolutely took it for granted. Supply and demand, I guess; now that there won't be any new Prince music, what he did release feels so much more precious.

I've always wanted to see him perform in NY. I Met a gentleman on a plane who offered me tix to go to the show with him at MSG. Since I didn't know him, I didn't go. I just knew that there would be another chance.

[Edited 6/29/16 10:51am]

[Edited 6/29/16 10:53am]

rookparade said:

ciki44 said:

I regret seeing him live only twice (the only time he has ever been to Brazil, in 1991). I wish I had traveled abroad to see more concerts... I always tought of him as an immortal and that I would have all the time in the world to see him again. His passing made me think so much about things we leave unsaid/undone...

[Edited 6/30/16 16:29pm]

luvgirl said:

I was bored sitting at the front desk waiting for patients to come in. Hands folded across my chest. Dying for 5:00 to come. My eyes wondered to the TV in the waiting room. I saw Prince 1958-2016. I stopped breathing for a few seconds, turned my head and spaced out, trying to come to grips with the news. Frantically, I blurted out. Oh My God! Prince died! Everyone stopped and looked at me, ( I think more for my frantic reaction than anything else) they expressed their sympathies and thoughts ( even the doctors) and moved on with the saving of people's lives.. My world was shattered though. I just couldn't express just how much shattered in front of all my coworkers who didn't even know I was a Prince fan. I felt agitated the whole day and just wanted to go home because I didn't want my coworkers to see me cry and I knew it was coming, and I didn't want to be embarrassed. I text my sister and she told me that she heard, but was afraid to tell me at work because she knew how much I loved Prince and didn't know how I would take it at work. That made me feel a little better because SOMEONE knew I was a Prince fan. Before I left work that day my coworkers knew I was a Prince fan. I told them how he was my teenage idol and I had every CD from the 80's, and how I used to have his posters on every inch of my walls with kisses all over them, and how he was always the go to punishment my mother would exact upon my head whenever I did anything wrong. My posters would come soaring down off my walls, ripped to sherds in the space of a second as homophobic slurs would reap down on poor Prince's head. My mother was always astounded at just how quickly they would find their way back up on those walls. What I didn't tell my coworkers though was that Prince was my escape from a neglected and abusive childhood. He was glitter and sparkle to a girl that didn't even have a toy growing up. He was something to be excited about. Something to look forward to. A special movement to be a part of. The little Jamaican punk rock girl from the south Bronx that no one understood, finally had a different world to live in, away from the one I despised. You see, In this new world, I was wearing a raspberry beret, sitting on the back of his bike, riding by old man Johnson's farm. It was I that was promised to another man and he tried so hard not to go insane. It was a world of never ending happiness, where you could always see the sun day or night. And nothing, nothing could penetrate my new world. No pain, no hurt, no words that would ever cut me so deep... And for that I will be forever grateful. Prince always had a special place in my heart but somewhere along the way, I started to neglect him. The last 2 albums I bought were LoveSexy and then in 1991, Diamonds and Pearls. In my young adult life after being into the punk rock scene in my teenage years, I wanted to be Jamaican again. Many of my friends and boyfriends were Jamaican and I pretty much delved into all things Jamaican including reggae music. Furthermore, I just knew Prince would always be there whenever I needed him, so there was nothing to be so fanatic about. Whenever I needed him, I could just run back and he would be there, no biggie. After my reggae stint, I met my husband. Italian American and very macho, no Prince posters were going up on my walls, lol. Apart from acting a fool to my husband's and my son's HORROR whenever Prince deemed to show his face on television, Prince wasn't really a major part of my life anymore. Then it snowed on April 21st... When I got home that night I cried something fierce. Away from my husband and son I mourned for Prince like I knew him. Like he was a part of my family. Like he was my brother. Like he was my lover. Like he was my best friend... I cried for weeks. I was staggered at just how hard his death hit me, but I was crying not only for his passing but for my neglect of him for all these years. I have such guilt. He was always there for me but I wasn't there for him. I should have supported his music. I should have still had his pictures on my walls. I should have told my friends and coworkers I was a Prince fan... But I always thought he would be there when I needed him, no biggie. I've become obsessed with Prince now. Going through everything he has done over the years, his genius puts me to shame. His many talents surpasses anything I could have ever imagined. His evolution from the 1984 sex symbol to the calm spiritual soul of 2016 impresses me. With an adult eye, I can see now just how much bigger he was than just a teenage idol... So here I am left with my regrets and guilt while my hero is gone from the planet. If I could do it all over again I would have never left Prince. I would have taken him along my journey into reggae music and taken him along for the ride in marriage and motherhood. I would have been the biggest Prince fan this side of Christendom. I don't have a time machine though so I will hold on to this reality. It turns out I never really left Prince. He made such a profound impact in my young life that he was forever sketched in my heart... At least I had him for all those years when I was a teenager and because of his great love and obsession for music, he left me with a vast catalogue of songs to devour. Even in death he is here for me, just like when I was a teenager, helping me get through... [Edited 6/29/16 4:43am]

This is a very powerful story. Abusive childhood would often leads to young minds finding shelter in an imaginary world where they feel safe and loved. Prince was your main character and you chose him for his music, lyrics, and power of seduction. Maybe you did not abandon him as you state but found a better life situation abd some happiness where the imaginary friend was not so prevalent.

I command you for sharing a compelling story which hopefully will lead to more reserved fans to relate and understand why they mourn him so much. Best to you!

I regret that I never saw him in concert (I'm not a big fan of crowds), and that I didn't keep up with his music in recent years. (I did try to in the last year, as much as I could with everything going on in my life, but I couldn't seem to find a centralized place to get information about his music and concerts.)

In other words, I took him for granted and that makes me very sad. I've learned my lesson now, though, but the price was just too great.

[Edited 7/3/16 12:16pm]

Quit following him and sold everything on eBay 'bout 10 years ago...