I'm sure there have already been a bunch of threads on this already, but I'm new, so if that's the case, feel free to direct me to them.

Just wondering what everyone's first memories are of seeing/hearing Prince.

I was about 6 years old when 1999 came out. Luckily, I have a brother and sister who are both about 10 years older than me, so they were very much into MTV. Since my love for music and performance started at a ridiculously young age, they helped me sneak downstairs after my parents went to bed, so that I could watch MTV with them (My mother was very disapproving, and hey - I was only 6!). I remember seeing the video for 1999. It was the first time I had ever heard of Prince. I was head over heels in love. I remember that for some reason, I particularly enjoyed the line "I got a lion in my pocket, and baby he's ready to roar". My mother looked at my siblings rather quizzically at the dinner table the next day after I sang that line for about the tenth time.

I started secretly fantasizing about beating up Wendy or Lisa so that I could take one of their places. But like I said, I was only 6, so I was allowed to think things like that. I would listen to the radio in my bedroom all the time. When that song would come on, I'd sing into my hairbrush and put on a crazy, high-strung performance for all of my stuffed animals.

I remember that I once asked my sister to give me a "Prince makeover".

Then Purple Rain came out, and it was all over for me. I used to sneak over to my friend Paula's house all the time to watch it. We felt like the coolest 8 year olds in town - little 2nd grade Prince groupie wanna-be's.

So yeah, the 1999 video was my first taste of him. I'm 28 and he's been funking me hard core for 22 years now. I can definitely say that I've been a fan of his longer than I've been a fan of anyone's.

SOLID GOLD.

He was performing Little Red Corvett.

I thought he was wiered, with those high heals and all.

It wasn't until a friend of mine had me listen to Purple Rain that I was hooked--by the time I got to Computer Blue, I knew this was no ordinary artist.

Watching Willis dance to "I Wanna Be Your Lover" on Different Strokes. And then seeing him in the 1999 album videos -- something in those eyes told me he was a real cool cat with a little of this and lot of that.

seeing the videos for "u got the look" and "icnttpoym" on friday night videos all the time when i was about 6. and i also remember seein copies of lovesexy on shelves behind the counter at music circuit (local wrecka sto in des moines, iowa...it's long gone now, tho' ) when it first came out. i was 7 years old, and the way p looked on the cover just made me think "wow" cuz i hadn't seen anything like it before.

I remember that my younger Brother had the PR tape...which I borrowed and never gave back. I sorta remember the 1999 era videos...but I think it was When doves cry that made me take notice. I know I followed his music slighly watching the singles come out (I collected 45's). When Kiss first came on the radio...was when I recall tuning into him and paying attention. I bought the 45's of Mountians and Kiss. SOTT was the first conscious purchase of an album.

The late 80's. MTV Video Music Awards. I was arounnd 4 years old. My sister (5 years older than me) and I were watching, and Prince was accepting an award. We noticed how much he looked like a girl when you cover the lower half of his face. I can't believe I remember that. I'm one of the few Prince fans who has very few memories of the 80's, as I had just turned 5 when it ended.

The first time I was introduced to Prince was when I heard I wanna be your lover on the radio in Philly and then later I saw him grace the cover of the April 1981 edition of Right On!! magazine. He had and still has the most AMAZING!!! brown eyes I had ever seen on a man.

MY FIRST MEMORY OF PRINCE:


He saw me from across the smokey room.
He walked over to me and asked my name.
Too shy to tell him my real name, I told him it was Ronald Jeremy.
He asked for a light and I lit his CLove cigarette for him.
We then walked out into the back porch area of the bar, and that's how it all began.

He doesn't write much now that he's taken on religion, but I still get chocolate from time to time.

My first memory was the LoveSign video with Nona Gaye and I remember just repeatedly telling myself, "Man, he's prettier than she is."

The 1999 video... I thought Prince was the names of the band. I was about nine yeasr old and remember getting that tape. That was quite an eye opening tape for a 9 yr old. I rember trying not to listen to it when my father was around.

Yeah, this has been done before, but I won't fault you for asking. My first memory and introduction to Prince was a radio staion's lunch hour marathon of his songs. The particular song that hooked me was " Why you wanna treat me so bad " with its ripping guitar intro. I wanted to listen for the whole hour but mom was going somewhere with the family, and changed the station. A few months later, I looked at a copy of DIRTY MIND while at a friend's house and was curious about what it sounded like. It was his sister's album and we weren't able to listen to it at the time.

The following year begot his first POP masterpiece, 1999. It was one of many " must own " albums from that year ( 1982 ) and definately got played to death by me. It's now been 20+ years of my fascination, and I'm here telling you about it.

I remember his 1999 and little red corvette videos. then, I had a friend show me when doves cry I immediatly fell in love with that sound.I got purple rian the vinyl that year fro christmas and a stereo with it. I got thriller too but I listened to Prince alot more. I bought every album after that and everything before.and the time vanity 6 everything associated with him. shit I helped finaince Prince i calculated once Ive spent over 3 grand on his stuff alone.im proud of it tho.

I Saw him On Don Kirshners in 1981 didn't know who he was but heard about him..Told my Friend .....Hey This Guys Gonna Be Big!

Zelaira said:

ME TOO!!! only it was back in '79 and it was the "i wanna be your lover" clip - my mom and i were staying up late watching TV that night and he freaked us both out with his crazy self. whoda thunk i'd wind up such a fan years later?!

Purple Rain

Bluesnswing said:

Oh my God that makes me feel old.

My first exposure was "Little Red Corvette" when it was first being aired on MTV. I thought it was pretty cool at the moment but didn't think too much of it again. Then "When Doves Cry" hit the air later and I was hooked.

The Little Red Corvette video back in '83.

UncleGrandpa said:

WHO IS THAT DEPICTED ON THE AVATAR?

My whole family ridiculing Prince when he made his BPI awards acceptance speech in the UK for the Purple Rain soundtrack.

I didn't join in with them. Instead I was quietly thinking "this guy seems pretty cool, maybe I should check out the album..."

Centerfold of Right on! Mag....the fro pic....before he was even hot....Cynthia Horner really put Prince out there....Big up ms horner...who I think is still at Right ON!

1979, staring at the back of the PRINCE album at my grandmother's house.
7 years old.

Seeing Prince do "I Wanna Be Your Lover" and "Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad" on American Bandstand in 1980.

I remember getting the 1999 casette tape when I was 9 years old. It was the first time I had ever heard of him. Back then I had nothing to play my music in anything other than a walk man which you use by head phones im sure somebody remembers them in the 80s. Anyway the music was so more amazing and his voice uhh! it was just great I never stopped listening to him since. Later I saw Purple Rain around the age of 11 it was like hahaha you felt like you were watching an adult movie you weren't allowed to see because it was rated R but hell prince was in it so you had to sneak and see it and boy did I. That's pretty much it. I also remember buying the b sides and the greatest hit cds and suddenly remembering all the songs a few years later.

When my sister turned me on to "Soft & Wet" back in 78 or early 79, and I thought she told me that the song was by PRINCESS, because it sounded like a girls group!LOL. I later found out it was by this dude who played all the Instruments, and it was all his voices!!

My 1st Memory
PeAcE

'Sexuality", video, on BETs 'funky rock show". owahhh!

kellyann22 said:

are you my little sister?

yeah, i was like 11 when mtv showed LRC and me and my best friend cari were hardcore into mtv that summer. my lil sis was born that year... and by the time purple rain came out i had her sitting next to me, showing her magazines and teaching her who wendy and lisa were.

i remember seeing lisa and jill playing keyboard together and thinking hmm what is going on there?

Purple Rain, I thought, he's wearing heels and more makeup than Dolly Parton, he seemed intriguing. He had this coolness and confidence about him, in that nothing could phase him and I liked that.
anyhow, after that, I started listening and I was hooked.