I don't know what happened. I was okay listening to his music on Thursday when the news first broke. When I heard the news actually, I was at work and had to keep my composure because I work in the medical field and there were patients around. Immediately after work though, I went to the Spike Lee memorial that night and sang and danced to P's music all night. It was a wonderful celebration. I was okay on Friday and although still devastated, I listened to his music all that morning and at work and when I got home as well.

Today for some reason, it has hit me so hard. I'm a mess. I have been sobbing for the past 5 hours almost non stop. I tried to listen to some of P's upbeat songs like "Thieves In The Temple" a while ago and had to turn it off. I also turned off my radio.

I was planning on seeing "Purple Rain" at one of the AMC theaters here in NYC tomorrow but now I don't know if I can sit through it without crying. I already bought my ticket online but now I'm thinking of canceling.

I've been unable to eat for the past three days. I finally was able to drink a smoothie and eat a handful of peanuts today. This is just too much. I'm here right now lying on my bed trying to bury my face in my pillow so no one in my house will hear me sobbbing.

How are you guys getting through this?

I'm just so glad he left behind so much wonderful music for us to listen to forever but I just can't listen to him right now.

-But I'm wondering how everyone else is doing. Are you guys finding listening to Prince's music comforting or does it make you sad?

Agreed, but I listened to HITNRUN Phase II and Emancipation so much recently its all I hear.

I am still too overwhelmed.

I am making myself watch SNL. I think it's helping a bit.

Actually I can't stop listening to it. It's the only thing that lifts my spirits right now.

yes i am having trouble doing or listening to anyhting really

I am heartbroken, but still I am listening to the newer stuff:

Art Official Age... the album has been played here a lot lately..

yesterday saturday danish Radio P4 had 2 hours special 16:00-18:00

today sunday a 7 hours Prince special on P7Mix from 10:00-17:00

I just have to listen to these radio specials.........

Can't even consider listening to it. Thinking about boxing up cds for a while, until the time is right.

FormerlyKnownAs said:

Yes - had to leave a grocery store yesterday and a restaurant tonight because a Prince song came on. I think I might need some therapy...

I couldn't listen to much of it until today and then I let Emanciaption and Crystal Ball play all the way through today. I know those releases get some flack but he just sounded like he was having so much fun making a lot of those tracks and it lifted my spirits a bit.... but then i switched on VH1 Calssic and caught the video for The Morning Papers and just felt gutted and like I would lose my breath.

He wasn't a friend or family member... I keep telling myself it's stupid to be upset over someone I'd never met but when you've spent 30+ years, litterly my entire adult life and then some, anticipating the next album or event and suddenly he's gone... I don't know how to process it all yet. Something in my life has been taken away in a manner I can't categorize.

And was the last Prince album I completely enjoyed from beginning to end. I loved that period, loved his look, etc... and it coincided with a really happy point in my life, too.

I don't really have any Prince fans nearby to talk to or grieve with as well which also makes it harder I think.

Can't listen. Absolutely. When I'll do, I will fall into tiny pieces, so I must wait a time when I can be alone... I don't want my children to see me devastated!

There is practically no escaping his music these days...however certain songs I'm just not strong enough to play: Paisley Park, Anna Stesia, and my main song Neon Rendezvous. :'(

purplediamonds said:

I actually just listened to the last concert in ATL. I didn't think it would hurt so much. The kids aren't home so I'm alone and I'm so glad for that because I literally was sobbing while crying. Just so hard to hear him sing and talk and laugh knowing it was his last time doing it. I go through spurts. I can look at the vids and smile at his wonderment and then I'm hit with a sudden hollow empty feeling in my heart and I think about the fact he is really gone forever. Like FOREVER. Evrn his body. Just gone into ashes. It's a bit too much to handle. It will take time for us all. But please know you aren't alone with your pain. We're all experiencing this sudden loss so deeply.

Purplediamonds - you and I are having the same night.. i listened to the ATL show and Ive been just completely in tears... then at the same time, I get a text telling me about the cremation and it was too much .... the thought of this beautiful person now gone... and joy he gave us all and the inspiration... and how we all here had a kind of 'club' we belonged to... we were the Prince superfans... and we belonged some where...

its too much to handle...

And while I can listen to the music.. what I cannot do.. is share my pain with 'casual' fans... there are so many tributes and dance parties.. but I just cant bring myself to go .. it is too deep of pain to share ... maybe except for with you guys...

im so glad and thankful to have the ORG because this is so much harder than I ever thought it would be..

I can't listen to Sometimes It Snows In April.

And I'm kinda avoiding Way Back Home. I'm just not ready yet.

gold31 said:

I can't listen to Sometimes It Snows In April.

And I'm kinda avoiding Way Back Home. I'm just not ready yet.

You know there's something, to me, oddly comforting about Way Back Home and all the spoken bits on the album... If that had been his final album, there'd be something peaceful and hopeful about it.

I watched the Webster Hall acoustic set smiling at the beginning and then feeling crushed when he started Sometimes It Snows In April.

I played songs at random in the car. When the tears weren't running down my face, the songs just sounded different. I didn't expect that. I think it will pass, but it was like the songs themselves were dead now that he's no longer alive.

An old friend got in touch who likes and respects Prince, but isn't a fan as such. His favourite song is I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man. I went through and listened to every version I have. It was a joyous experience. I sent him a copy of the Paris 87 live performance. I guess I must have listened to it about five times just marvelling at the musicianship. That gave me hope that I'll be able to enjoy all of his music again at some point.

I got stuck in a loop listening to Adonis & Bathsheba over and over and over again. The song is genius. But the more I listened the more I wanted to scream. Why was this man taken from us? Who else will ever be able to make me feel this way again? I felt physically sick. Wisely, I turned it off and stared blankly at the wall.

I need the music to help me get through this, but even when I think I've managed to get lost in a song, it'll hit me hard that he's gone. He's gone. Damn it.

[Edited 4/24/16 1:47am]

airth said:

I played songs at random in the car. When the tears weren't running down my face, the songs just sounded different. I didn't expect that. I think it will pass, but it was like the songs themselves were dead now that he's no longer alive.

I know what you mean... I've felt that way the last couple of days about a lot of it, that they are one dimensional and lifeless now that the man that made them is gone...

FormerlyKnownAs said:

Yes - had to leave a grocery store yesterday and a restaurant tonight because a Prince song came on. I think I might need some therapy...

I haven't been able to listen to his music at all ever since I heard the news; I can't even bear to see his beautiful face without tears starting to flow again again. If you find a good therapist, let me know

It's really difficult, because if I needed comforting or cheering up in the past I would listen to his music or watch a video and I would feel better. I don't know what's going to comfort me now... He was supposed to be around forever !

(I have always felt like crying when hearing "Sometimes it snows in April" - right now, just thinking about the song, brings tears to my eyes.)

I haven't been able to eat either (I'm relying on black coffee and a little piece of chocolate to get me through the day). (At any other time in my life, I probably would have been happy with my current weight loss... )