sgmusic said:

that's one of the nicest statements I've read ..

sgmusic said:

There's a different between merely having "good feelings about Prince music" and endowing it with magical powers or making it the centerpiece of your existence.

The 700+ Prince tracks I have in my iPod (and the amount of time I spend listening to them) are testament to the "good feelings" I get from his art. But I am not silly enough to believe that if he didn't exist, I wouldn't be listening to something else. You can't miss what you've never known.

Maybe it's because I was already an adult when Prince came on the scene that I don't come unglued over him. I had already had many years of musical training (I sang and played four instruments growing up) and heard a lot of very revelatory music before I ever heard a note played by him.

I would be in Barnes and Nobles reading "Sex for Dummies" if Prince didn't exist.

That's really a loaded question PrupleKnight, and I don't really have to
think long and hard about the answer....

If Prince and his music hadn't existed, I may not have even learned to use
the computer....it got to a point where listening to his music wasn't enough.
I wanted to know more about the man and his fans, which ultimately brought me
to the pc.

But most importantly, if it hadn't been for Prince, I would never have met
some of the ppl that are now very dear to me....

Actually if it hadn't been for Prince, I don't think I'd be as open to other musicians music.
My musical world has expanded beyond him...but he'll always be #1 with me. I will always
be looking for more from Prince, becuz I know he has it in him...he'll be around for a long time to come.

the same way i've always been...just sans prince.

I'd probably be attracted to another androgynous, short man who plays guitar. And I'd probably think my friend Dion--who looks alot like P--looks strange. LOL.

If Prince didn't exist I wouldn't have a musical role model to look up to that in my opinion is just as important as James Brown, Earth Wind and Fire, and The Beatles was. I also probably wouldn't have as much motivation to learn to play the guitar if I hadn't seen Prince play.

I would probably be running an entire division in my company instead of wasting hours of productivity time on the org.

Wow, if Prince didn't exist, where would I be now? Shit, I'd probably be an uptight conservative incapable of having fun because I'd have never...

Had a Dirty Mind

Gone Uptown

Gotten some Head

Caused Controversy

Discovered Sexuality was all I ever needed

Partied til it was 1999

Laughed in the Purple Rain

Known The Beautiful Ones always smash the picture

Played Under the cherry moon

Saw the Sign O The Times

etc...
[Edited 12/1/06 5:48am]

On the Dark side of the moon...

If prince didn't exist,where would i be now?

funkin' to other music.

Purple..a hauntingly beautiful color and the many shades thereof.

I'm fairly certain I'd still be sitting on my bed with my laptop checking e-mails right now.
[Edited 12/1/06 9:29am]

i.d have more money and have more space in the P section of my CD cabinet!

Flowerz said:

yep me too!

Prince (although he doesn't know it) he's always been there for me! Things I've gone through in my life eased a little when I lost myself in his music and lyrics (god! I'm starting to sound like sister sledge!!!)

Music to me when growing up was always much more than just drum & bass and words and blah blah.....
His words really soothed me when I was down, but also cracked me up and made me laugh out load, made me feel sexy, loved, special (in the head), crazy, erotic.....
every emotion you can think of I have gone through listening to his amazing creations.

But, would my life be any different? No I don't think so, but having him in my lifetime makes me feel honored, thankful, blessed, sooo lucky and forever a huge fan!

(the only thing that makes me sad is that I'm only in my 20's and he better not be hanging up his heels anytime soon cause I'll be....

This is a really interesting question. If Prince wasn't around, musically I'd probably would've been into Michael Jackson a little longer than I was. I was more into MJ in the 80's than Prince but Prince was always number 2 until 1991. I probably would have been into a few artists a little more than I am now. Thankfully, that never happened.

Another thing is, if Prince and his music wasn't around, I don't know if I would have had some of the joy I've had that his music has given me over the years. I loved and still love how different his music is from everyone elses and when he was making hits, it was great to see this different kind of music become big (doesn't make his music any less better without a Top 10 single today). Plus, I wouldn't have the org or any other Prince site to go to and I wouldn't have made the friends that I've made. I must say, this thread has made me realize how glad I am that Prince and his music are around. Great thread PurpleKnight.

purplecam said:

ditto

bobbing heads and smoking blunts to janis, jimi, bob and BB.king
where else????

Good question.

Career: I'm a graphic designer - and honestly I don't know if I would've become one if Prince was not around. I will definitely say that being a Prince fan opened up areas of creativity/expression that I don't think would've been there otherwise. I'm not saying I got direct inspiration from the music, but more like a mental "green light" to try new things. I'm not talking about the first round of albums (which musically got me hooked), but the second, post-PR round (ATWIAD, Parade, SOTT, Lovesexy).

Love: Well first I must say that I met/dated a few girls only BECAUSE they were Prince fans. I would not even know them otherwise. Not to mention the ones that lasted longer than normal because of the common Prince connection. His music definitely acted as a mood-setter (and sometimes lesson book!)

Spiritually/religion: This is the biggie. Prince's music directly shaped my spirituality in my early teenage years. Don't get me wrong, I didn't follow everything the man said as law, but the music was so powerful then that it was hard to ignore the messages. I'm a Christian and without following any one religion I try to walk a moral path. (I have not followed Prince in his recent religious directions). The weird part is that if someone who more accurately fit "the part" of musical preacher (like early MJ) told me to trust God and open my heart I'd be like WTF! But here's Prince, this guy who goes through women like water and I'm all "SIGN ME UP". Funny how that works I guess.

Life: Prince's music has brought me so much enjoyment/fun that I cannot imagine life without it. So much energy and excitement, especially during the 80's/early 90s. I would've probably been an MJ fan for about 5 years longer than I was otherwise (losing interest around '87). Another thing to think about is how much money I've spent on Prince - easily 10 grand over the course - but if someone was at my door tomorrow with that money in exchange for erasing Prince out of my memory? Forget it.

Not here, which would be unfortunate.

And, I'd probably not be as fascinated with the intricacies of music. There were all kinds of people and bands I loved before (won't get into them all right now) prior to realizing how great Prince was. But when I heard Prince, I mean really listened to it to hear it, something clicked. I don't know what it is and I still don't, but after a few songs I was determined that I was definitely very interested in the man's music. I wouldn't have that same "click" with any other musician, I don't think. I just connect in some way with his music more than I can connect with anyone else's that I'm aware of.

I might be a little less happy, because his songs do tend to lift me up, even if they're made to be depressing. I think it's because I'm so fascinated by it.

I'd still be alive without Prince being world famous and all, I'd still be all right, and I'd still love music, but I don't think I'd be so interested in anyone's work like I am with his. It's hard to describe, but that's it...because I tend to ramble.