I'm not sure how many fans here use Prince to help them cope with this very tough world that we all live in. I just know that lately I've felt horrible loneliness and sadness and as soon as I play some Prince I get lost in the music and his passion. I am not ashamed to say that Prince has truly saved my life, I believe that if I didn't have Prince for some of the darkest and worst moments of my life that my present day would not be as it is now.

I imagine that I am not the only fan that turns to him to brighten a dark and gloomy day, week, or months? I would love to hear some stories about Prince from you all on how he inspired you or saved you if he has.

I think this is one of the reasons fans tend to be so attached to certain era's, ablums, tours, and more specifically...individual songs. Prince is an enigma. For someone so seemingly out of touch with what we call normal life, he has an incredible ability to convery a personal sense of relatability to us. His music surely does speak at a personal level...and when you come across a track that touches your life with such profound importance that it can literally change your outlook to circumstance, you know you are part of something special.

And I think that is one reason why so many fans get so frustrated with him. For so many people he has songs that helped them get through high school or college or some life event that they wanted to get a break from... but in recent years, that experience (similar to trying to recreate your best drug high) is not there...

batman89 said:

I think this is one of the reasons fans tend to be so attached to certain era's, ablums, tours, and more specifically...individual songs. Prince is an enigma. For someone so seemingly out of touch with what we call normal life, he has an incredible ability to convery a personal sense of relatability to us. His music surely does speak at a personal level...and when you come across a track that touches your life with such profound importance that it can literally change your outlook to circumstance, you know you are part of something special.

pdiddy2011 said:

And I think that is one reason why so many fans get so frustrated with him. For so many people he has songs that helped them get through high school or college or some life event that they wanted to get a break from... but in recent years, that experience (similar to trying to recreate your best drug high) is not there...

batman89 said:

I think this is one of the reasons fans tend to be so attached to certain era's, ablums, tours, and more specifically...individual songs. Prince is an enigma. For someone so seemingly out of touch with what we call normal life, he has an incredible ability to convery a personal sense of relatability to us. His music surely does speak at a personal level...and when you come across a track that touches your life with such profound importance that it can literally change your outlook to circumstance, you know you are part of something special.

I actually like this cause this is an interesting topic. This is exactly the issue! when people say I only like Prince's old stuff or only a certain era it is because during that time the music and what he was doing was timed right and you found him at the right time. Recreating a high from a specific time on a new album, tour, or video is just not going to happen. Instead you will get new experiences. Sadly time only moves in one direction & when you follow an artists you evolve with them and experience new things with them. Setting expectations that Prince always has to do the same thing for you is always going to leave you in dissapointment.

Back in 1993 when The Hits/B-Sides came out, I had not heard Power Fantastic before. My parents had just gone through a divorce, but I was also dating someone new and going to school. I was balancing good and bad emotions and trying to better myself too. That song -- I dunno, something about it just spoke to me and got me through the bad times and somehow got me through the good times better. If that makes any sense.

.

The song is both sparse and lush at the same time, and it's both spooky and beautiful at the same time.

pdiddy2011 said:

And I think that is one reason why so many fans get so frustrated with him. For so many people he has songs that helped them get through high school or college or some life event that they wanted to get a break from... but in recent years, that experience (similar to trying to recreate your best drug high) is not there...

batman89 said:

I think this is one of the reasons fans tend to be so attached to certain era's, ablums, tours, and more specifically...individual songs. Prince is an enigma. For someone so seemingly out of touch with what we call normal life, he has an incredible ability to convery a personal sense of relatability to us. His music surely does speak at a personal level...and when you come across a track that touches your life with such profound importance that it can literally change your outlook to circumstance, you know you are part of something special.

This is true when it comes to new music -- you can't recreate the feel of the old music -- BUT, when listening to the old music, all the same feelings/memories/emotions are still there. That is a beautiful thing about old music . . . it's always there for us to revisit.

Omey said:

pdiddy2011 said:

And I think that is one reason why so many fans get so frustrated with him. For so many people he has songs that helped them get through high school or college or some life event that they wanted to get a break from... but in recent years, that experience (similar to trying to recreate your best drug high) is not there...

I actually like this cause this is an interesting topic. This is exactly the issue! when people say I only like Prince's old stuff or only a certain era it is because during that time the music and what he was doing was timed right and you found him at the right time. Recreating a high from a specific time on a new album, tour, or video is just not going to happen. Instead you will get new experiences. Sadly time only moves in one direction & when you follow an artists you evolve with them and experience new things with them. Setting expectations that Prince always has to do the same thing for you is always going to leave you in dissapointment.

Omey said:

I'm not sure how many fans here use Prince to help them cope with this very tough world that we all live in. I just know that lately I've felt horrible loneliness and sadness and as soon as I play some Prince I get lost in the music and his passion. I am not ashamed to say that Prince has truly saved my life, I believe that if I didn't have Prince for some of the darkest and worst moments of my life that my present day would not be as it is now.

I imagine that I am not the only fan that turns to him to brighten a dark and gloomy day, week, or months? I would love to hear some stories about Prince from you all on how he inspired you or saved you if he has.

I think that is why I like LotusFlower CD so much, because I find some of the songs (such as Colonized Mind, Feel Good, Feel Better, (which I like 2 listen 2 while doing outdoor workouts lol), & Love Like Jazz, Better With Time, etc, so inspiring..

pdiddy2011 said:

And I think that is one reason why so many fans get so frustrated with him. For so many people he has songs that helped them get through high school or college or some life event that they wanted to get a break from... but in recent years, that experience (similar to trying to recreate your best drug high) is not there...

batman89 said:

I think this is one of the reasons fans tend to be so attached to certain era's, ablums, tours, and more specifically...individual songs. Prince is an enigma. For someone so seemingly out of touch with what we call normal life, he has an incredible ability to convery a personal sense of relatability to us. His music surely does speak at a personal level...and when you come across a track that touches your life with such profound importance that it can literally change your outlook to circumstance, you know you are part of something special.

Agree!!! Un42n8ly most r not wise or mature enuff 2 recognize this, & thereby own responsibility 4 their frustration as opposed 2 blaming P 4 it. Eye've no doubt that a few sum1s around the world r experiencing the same sense of hope/inspiration that we've felt from older jams from new jams like Fixurlifeup, The Breakdown, etc. 4 me, there have been many, Mountains, When Doves Cry, Sexuality, etc., but as the anniversary of my recovery from drug addiction is 10 days away, eye gotta say, that the line from SOTT "September my cuzin tried reefer 4 the very 1st time, Now he's doing Horse, it's June" pushed me in the right direction!!! Thanx Prince!!!!

Omey said:

pdiddy2011 said:

And I think that is one reason why so many fans get so frustrated with him. For so many people he has songs that helped them get through high school or college or some life event that they wanted to get a break from... but in recent years, that experience (similar to trying to recreate your best drug high) is not there...

I actually like this cause this is an interesting topic. This is exactly the issue! when people say I only like Prince's old stuff or only a certain era it is because during that time the music and what he was doing was timed right and you found him at the right time. Recreating a high from a specific time on a new album, tour, or video is just not going to happen. Instead you will get new experiences. Sadly time only moves in one direction & when you follow an artists you evolve with them and experience new things with them. Setting expectations that Prince always has to do the same thing for you is always going to leave you in dissapointment.

Could NOT have said it better myself!!!

I sang to myself "somtimes it snows in april" at my grandmother's funeral. It helped me so much. Also with break ups and bad feelings overall, Prince's music really helps

Thanks to everybody who has contributed to this thread.

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He has helped me. Like all my favourite musicians. Batman89 mentions that it's strange that a person seemingly "out of contact with what we call normal life" can, however, be so inspiring for people's lives. Well, first of all, Prince's music is amazing, and that is enough to help and inspire people. But second, I don't think he is that out of touch with normal life. He is a very spiritual person. He has always been a strong individualist, always ready to defy society's categorizations and ascribed identities. He has an awesome work ethic. He believes in education. Many, many things that can be inspiring for our lives, even apart from his wonderful music.

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Among his most inspiring and helpful songs to me, "Paisley Park", "Don't Talk To Strangers", "The Holy River", "Lion Of Judah" and "Willing And Able" come to mind now.

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So thanks to all the sensitive people who have posted. It's a relief to read your contributions after all the bartvanhemelens and the like who are out there.