Looking back at those times when I struggled growing up, things kinda make more sense now. Beyond the musical greatness of my favorite Prince records, such as If I Was Your Girlfriend and When Doves Cry, I wonder whether the reason his music left such a powerful impression on me back then was a sense he conveyed that it was okay, cool even, to be different, to be you, to be me. I suspect delving into that musical world of his provided me with a source of comfort and reassurance, not to mention, wicked adventure and fun. It must have been a welcome reprieve from the world outside my bedroom, a world where invariably anything different from the norm was often singled out during my youth as, at best, strange, and at worst, wrong.

But time changes things. I'm guessing he knows he stumbled somewhere along the way (Love Symbol, anyone?), losing touch with that special value within him, just as we all do, many times over. Afterall, it's sometimes easier to buy into those trends that seemingly work with society as a whole and forget how important it is in simply being ourselves. I like the analogy of the millions of pebbles on a beach where the ocean shapes each of them in entirely unique ways. No two pebbles are the same and however weathered, however rounded, however different they become, there is beauty in each of them, just as there is in each of us, just as there is in Prince. Listening to rarities such as Old Friends 4 Sale and The Grand Progression, I am reminded of how privileged I was growing up to hear someone pour their heart out. Songs like those made me respectful, or at least, more respectful of people because we can all feel like that at times.

As much as I sometimes think Prince seemingly loses touch with that which once and still makes him so unique, so individual, so quirky and so special, he'll always remain that vulnerable lone wolf in the wilderness to me. That's where he started out. As did I. A musical companion of sorts in a world not so far away. A world that felt safe. Whatever songs like Power Fantastic actually meant, the music rang true and still does. And for that, I am forever grateful. To him and his musical revolution. I think I'm going to put on 1999 now. Or maybe Lovesexy. It's always been a hard choice for me between those two incredible albums. How about you?
[Edited 7/28/07 14:40pm]

Looking back at those times when I struggled growing up, things kinda make more sense now. Beyond the musical greatness of my favorite Prince records, such as If I Was Your Girlfriend and When Doves Cry, I wonder whether the reason his music left such a powerful impression on me back then was a sense he conveyed that it was okay, cool even, to be different, to be you, to be me. I suspect delving into that musical world of his provided me with a source of comfort and reassurance, not to mention, wicked adventure and fun. It must have been a welcome reprieve from the world outside my bedroom, a world where invariably anything different from the norm was often singled out during my youth as, at best, strange, and at worst, wrong.

But time changes things. I'm guessing he knows he stumbled somewhere along the way (Love Symbol, anyone?), losing touch with that special value within him, just as we all do, many times over. Afterall, it's sometimes easier to buy into those trends that seemingly work with society as a whole and forget how important it is simply being ourselves. I like the analogy of the millions of pebbles on a beach where the ocean shapes each of them in entirely unique ways. No two pebbles are the same and however weathered, however rounded, however different they become, there is beauty in each of them. Just as there is in each of us. Just as there is in Prince. Listening to rarities such as Old Friends 4 Sale and The Grand Progression, I am reminded of how privileged I was growing up hearing someone pour their heart out. Songs like those made me respectful, or at least, more respectful of people because we can all feel like that at times.

As much as I sometimes think Prince loses touch with that which once and still makes him so unique, so individual, so quirky and so special, he'll always remain that vulnerable lone wolf in the wilderness to me. That's where he started out. As did I. A musical companion of sorts in a world not so far away. A world that felt safe. Whatever songs like Power Fantastic actually meant, the music rang true and still does. And for that, I am forever grateful. To him and his musical revolution. I think I'm going to put on 1999 now. Or maybe Lovesexy. It's always been a hard choice for me between those two incredible albums. How about you?
[Edited 7/28/07 15:20pm]

Looking back at those times when I struggled growing up, things kinda make more sense now. Beyond the musical greatness of my favorite Prince records, such as If I Was Your Girlfriend and When Doves Cry, I wonder whether the reason his music left such a powerful impression on me back then was a sense he conveyed that it was okay, cool even, to be different, to be you, to be me. I suspect delving into that musical world of his provided me with a source of comfort and reassurance, not to mention, wicked adventure and fun. It must have been a welcome reprieve from the world outside my bedroom, a world where invariably anything different from the norm was often singled out during my youth as, at best, strange, and at worst, wrong.

But time changes things. I'm guessing he knows he stumbled somewhere along the way (Love Symbol, anyone?), losing touch with that special value within him, just as we all do, many times over. Afterall, it's sometimes easier to buy into those trends that seemingly work with society as a whole and forget how important it is simply being ourselves. I like the analogy of the millions of pebbles on a beach where the ocean shapes each of them in entirely unique ways. No two pebbles are the same and however weathered, however rounded, however different they become, there is beauty in each of them. Just as there is in each of us. Just as there is in Prince. Listening to rarities such as Old Friends 4 Sale and The Grand Progression, I am reminded of how privileged I was growing up hearing someone pour their heart out. Songs like those made me respectful, or at least, more respectful of people because we can all feel like that at times.

As much as I sometimes think Prince loses touch with that which once and still makes him so unique, so individual, so quirky and so special, he'll always remain that vulnerable lone wolf in the wilderness to me. That's where he started out. As did I. A musical companion of sorts in a world not so far away. A world that felt safe. Whatever songs like Power Fantastic actually meant, the music rang true and still does. And for that, I am forever grateful. To him and his musical revolution. I think I'm going to put on 1999 now. Or maybe Lovesexy. It's always been a hard choice for me between those two incredible albums. How about you?
[Edited 7/28/07 15:20pm]

A-MEN brother ... the scene where all those 'different' people are watchin' in awe while our main man plays purple rain from the movie with the same name captures it all in just over 8 minutes.

I just finished listening to 1999 literally 30 minutes ago. Free still makes me want to cry because of its honesty. International Lover is one of his most 'passionate' songs that I absolutely love. Automatic still just makes me want to dance just like DMSR. That album is a treasure. And yes growing up I was always seen as just different and P's music was a God send or something like that lol.
[Edited 7/28/07 15:05pm]

ejnbmore said:

I went with 1999 in the end. All The Critics In New York was my jam last night.

Looking back at those times when I struggled growing up, things kinda make more sense now. Beyond the musical greatness of my favorite Prince records, such as If I Was Your Girlfriend and When Doves Cry, I wonder whether the reason his music left such a powerful impression on me back then was a sense he conveyed that it was okay, cool even, to be different, to be you, to be me. I suspect delving into that musical world of his provided me with a source of comfort and reassurance, not to mention, wicked adventure and fun. It must have been a welcome reprieve from the world outside my bedroom, a world where invariably anything different from the norm was often singled out during my youth as, at best, strange, and at worst, wrong.

But time changes things. I'm guessing he knows he stumbled somewhere along the way (Love Symbol, anyone?), losing touch with that special value within him, just as we all do, many times over. Afterall, it's sometimes easier to buy into those trends that seemingly work with society as a whole and forget how important it is simply being ourselves. I like the analogy of the millions of pebbles on a beach where the ocean shapes each of them in entirely unique ways. No two pebbles are the same and however weathered, however rounded, however different they become, there is beauty in each of them. Just as there is in each of us. Just as there is in Prince. Listening to rarities such as Old Friends 4 Sale and The Grand Progression, I am reminded of how privileged I was growing up hearing someone pour their heart out. Songs like those made me respectful, or at least, more respectful of people because we can all feel like that at times.

As much as I sometimes think Prince loses touch with that which once and still makes him so unique, so individual, so quirky and so special, he'll always remain that vulnerable lone wolf in the wilderness to me. That's where he started out. As did I. A musical companion of sorts in a world not so far away. A world that felt safe. Whatever songs like Power Fantastic actually meant, the music rang true and still does. And for that, I am forever grateful. To him and his musical revolution. I think I'm going to put on 1999 now. Or maybe Lovesexy. It's always been a hard choice for me between those two incredible albums. How about you?
[Edited 7/28/07 15:20pm]

Looking back at those times when I struggled growing up, things kinda make more sense now. Beyond the musical greatness of my favorite Prince records, such as If I Was Your Girlfriend and When Doves Cry, I wonder whether the reason his music left such a powerful impression on me back then was a sense he conveyed that it was okay, cool even, to be different, to be you, to be me. I suspect delving into that musical world of his provided me with a source of comfort and reassurance, not to mention, wicked adventure and fun. It must have been a welcome reprieve from the world outside my bedroom, a world where invariably anything different from the norm was often singled out during my youth as, at best, strange, and at worst, wrong.

But time changes things. I'm guessing he knows he stumbled somewhere along the way (Love Symbol, anyone?), losing touch with that special value within him, just as we all do, many times over. Afterall, it's sometimes easier to buy into those trends that seemingly work with society as a whole and forget how important it is simply being ourselves. I like the analogy of the millions of pebbles on a beach where the ocean shapes each of them in entirely unique ways. No two pebbles are the same and however weathered, however rounded, however different they become, there is beauty in each of them. Just as there is in each of us. Just as there is in Prince. Listening to rarities such as Old Friends 4 Sale and The Grand Progression, I am reminded of how privileged I was growing up hearing someone pour their heart out. Songs like those made me respectful, or at least, more respectful of people because we can all feel like that at times.

As much as I sometimes think Prince loses touch with that which once and still makes him so unique, so individual, so quirky and so special, he'll always remain that vulnerable lone wolf in the wilderness to me. That's where he started out. As did I. A musical companion of sorts in a world not so far away. A world that felt safe. Whatever songs like Power Fantastic actually meant, the music rang true and still does. And for that, I am forever grateful. To him and his musical revolution. I think I'm going to put on 1999 now. Or maybe Lovesexy. It's always been a hard choice for me between those two incredible albums. How about you?
[Edited 7/28/07 15:20pm]

Looking back at those times when I struggled growing up, things kinda make more sense now. Beyond the musical greatness of my favorite Prince records, such as If I Was Your Girlfriend and When Doves Cry, I wonder whether the reason his music left such a powerful impression on me back then was a sense he conveyed that it was okay, cool even, to be different, to be you, to be me. I suspect delving into that musical world of his provided me with a source of comfort and reassurance, not to mention, wicked adventure and fun. It must have been a welcome reprieve from the world outside my bedroom, a world where invariably anything different from the norm was often singled out during my youth as, at best, strange, and at worst, wrong.

But time changes things. I'm guessing he knows he stumbled somewhere along the way (Love Symbol, anyone?), losing touch with that special value within him, just as we all do, many times over. Afterall, it's sometimes easier to buy into those trends that seemingly work with society as a whole and forget how important it is simply being ourselves. I like the analogy of the millions of pebbles on a beach where the ocean shapes each of them in entirely unique ways. No two pebbles are the same and however weathered, however rounded, however different they become, there is beauty in each of them. Just as there is in each of us. Just as there is in Prince. Listening to rarities such as Old Friends 4 Sale and The Grand Progression, I am reminded of how privileged I was growing up hearing someone pour their heart out. Songs like those made me respectful, or at least, more respectful of people because we can all feel like that at times.

As much as I sometimes think Prince loses touch with that which once and still makes him so unique, so individual, so quirky and so special, he'll always remain that vulnerable lone wolf in the wilderness to me. That's where he started out. As did I. A musical companion of sorts in a world not so far away. A world that felt safe. Whatever songs like Power Fantastic actually meant, the music rang true and still does. And for that, I am forever grateful. To him and his musical revolution. I think I'm going to put on 1999 now. Or maybe Lovesexy. It's always been a hard choice for me between those two incredible albums. How about you?
[Edited 7/28/07 15:20pm]