Im 21 and my cousin, who is 30, played me Purple Rain (cd not film) when I was about 12.
That was me hooked

I became a Prince fan after my mom went to a concert and started blasting songs around the house..then I was mad though because I didn't get to go to the concert!

The first time I ever heard of Prince was when "I Wanna Be Your Lover" was all over the radio. It was annoyingly all over the radio and I thought it sounded a bit too much like a Ray Parker Jr & Raydio rip-off. Then the video was shown on some local station's half hour video program (waaaay before MTV) and I was totally grossed out by how effeminate he was, flouncing around with a his Farrah-styled hair and that weird scarf dancing he was doing. I totally ignored that he was shown playing all the instruments and just assumed it wasn't true. I avoided that song like the plague for years.

Then in 1981, I was flipping through the am radio dial and heard a snippet of something that knocked me out - a sonic attack like nothing I had ever heard before and a vocal that sounded like it was from the future. I waited for the end and the DJ announced the song...it was "Controversy" by Prince. I bought the single immediately. The first full Prince lp I listened to was "1999", which I checked out from the library and returned the next day. I bought the single "1999" and I had to watch the "Little Red Corvette" video everytime MTV showed it, but I never bought a Prince album until "Purple Rain". I've been buying his albums on the first day of release ever since....

When i was in ..eh...7th grade, 1986, the song "Kiss" was on the radio, that is what i remember beeing the first time i realised who he is. But later i figured out, i had been singing the song "Raspberry beret" to myself, but making up my own lyrics(i hardly didn`t speak any english at the time). And there had been another song i loved, not knowing it was Prince, too. That was "A love bizarre".
So, a buddy in school gave me a copy of "Sign o the Times" when it came out.
I remember i liked the uptempo songs the most, and that i was totally confused by the sounds from what i know now was the Synclavier, songs like "it". I love it now, but back then i thought it was cold as ice(well it is but that`s great!). I liked "it`s gonna be a beautiful night" the most. Well, all of the songs are equally brilliant to me today...hahaha!
I`d like to add that seeing him perform for the first time the following year, that had the biggest impact i feel for me becoming a fan - as well as becoming a musician myself.
I can say that with every memory i have growing up from age 13 - it is connected to a certain sound, and all those memories are connected to the music of Prince. Wonderful memories i have to say. I feel blessed, because he opened my ears, and for some reason i was able to follow. I am sorry for all the people who will never have the chance to discover the sound of his music the way i had.
I still give his music away to anybody who`s interested. That has been like a routine since day one. I have met wonderful people because of his music . It`s amazing what music can do - the awesome power of music.

In 1981 I heard 'Controversy' on the radio. Well, my 9 year old ears heard something other than, "Contoversy". (Explicit) Don't ask! Well, anyways...I was very fascinated by the song.

Simple question.

Getting ready for school at 6am,turned to Mtv2,saw musicology and became a believer.

Went to virginia beach the next week and Prince was on the phone with the Dj having an interview about his life and stuff.That sexy voice made me buy his album the next day.

Prince first came to me with the radio on
Jumped up in my body with an attitude
Kissed my fledgling soul and said "your leader take me to"

LadySMD4 said:

For me too it was that video:i was like whoa- P is all wet and hot...I love taking baths too.