It is my belief that music is the true "chicken soup for the soul." Whether we know it or not, it's something that we always crave. And for some people, music helps them carve their futures, the people they end up becoming. It defines moments in your life in words photographs can't even capture.

I first defined my musical tastes (as many others tend to do) when I was a teenager. The boybands feels like a fad now, but it was a fun time in my life. And mainstream music had the same feel. I took a break from the mainstream for a year (to spend with one lesser boyband in particular). Once I returned, I had nothing to go back to.

I felt like Prince while he wrote The Black Album. He wrote his own music to counterattack the developing "hip-hop" movement. More or less a fish out of water. I couldn't follow any musical trends because I agreed with nothing the radios played. I could only jump between a few songwriters of my choosing.

I've spent my college years gathering together songs I either grew up with or my favorite singles from certain artists. Whenever I chose one to stick with, the 2nd album didn't follow through and I was left to wander to find the one artist I could stick with.

Some of the songs I gathered included:
Amazed- Lonestar
Say You Will- Foreigner
Do you know- Enrique Igelasias
Nobody's Home- Avril Lavinge
Ever the Same- Rob Thomas
Cable Car- The Fray

Singles from artists I hear on the radio, but don't buy the albums fearing that nothing there compares to the singles. And things change and I'm left to wander to find the next artist to "bond to" for a short time.

I would say that Prince came at the perfect time for me. Wherever I go, the music I hear doesn't qualify as music to me. People my age only want music they can dance to. They couldn't care less if real instruments are played or if the lyrics have any poetry to him.
Prince helped me find a place to plant my feet. He brought me here to a community where I can belong, so I can be part of something big. Going against the crowd is a lonely life and any human soul could not withstand that loneliness for a long period.

Hopefully one day, his music will also open doors to other artists who play great music.

DreamyPopRoyalty said:

Finally, DPR.
Finally, your writing is saying something...to me.
Well done, you.
Well done, me.

Let me just add a little more to why I came up with my title.

What happened after I returned to mainstream music proved that the world does continue turning when you go on a mental vacation for a year.
Times were changing and I didn't like what things came to. Instead of there being a wide-array of music to choose from, I've found myself limited to a few artists and nothing ever stuck.

I had to find an alternative to the trends in the industry and I had to find an artist to call home. That I could stick with for a long period of time, longer than just a year or two, but also someone that many people know. (I was getting sick of listing songwriters that made people scratch their heads and say "who?").

I see music as memories are seen in the book "The Giver." Memories is meant to be shared and music is meant to be shared & discussed and Prince enables me to do that.
He's allowed me to stick with him with a wide array of music at my disposal, but also one I could get to know through the music and turn to in times of need.

great reading dream it pays to be persistant ure writing has really improved just my opinion

Coming together on the basis of love is always a wonderful thing...
We here seem to love Prince for that, however Prince is not alone...Many artists have been sharing their hearts through their music for years, and
when one person feels love and gives it away, that's a beautiful thing...I can't wait until everyone of us gives love the way that we can.

I've always felt that I don't choose music, the music chooses me. when I hear a song, more like feel a song that stops me in my tracks , just gives me goosebumps that's when I know I'm hooked. Prince's music like no other artist has been doing that for me for the lasst 25 years, Purple rain still gives me chills.The day it doesn't it's time for me to leave.

wlcm2thdwn said:

awww... that was beautiful

With me stumbling across Prince a few times the way I did b4 I officially gave his music a chance, I was starting to think that maybe it was for a reason.

*Flipping thru the channels, found Purple Rain, dad told me to watch it: hooked
*Watch American Idol, he made a surprise appearance the finale in Season 5
*A football fan of 10 years, fav. team was at the SuperBowl, he did the HalfTime show
*Looking up SuperBowl commericals, stumble across a webpage of Prince videos

I think about it now and I say... maybe it was fate that he would become the next artist I check into. But who knew he'd become the ultimate for me?