Doozer said:

donnyenglish said:

I agree, Prince was a tough dude, he was a disciplined, determined, hard working man who knew what he wanted and set out to get it, and in doing so, inspired a entire generation. I miss him terribly, and we will not see his like again. Believe that.

Nice read but I´d replace Rock and Roll Hall of Fame performance with the Superbowl performance because that one was seen by more people and the performance was much more against all odds than the RRHOF show.

But then again, I´m probably the only one on the org who wasn´t that much into that RRHOF performance. It was good but nowhere near the most memorable performances, in my opinion at least.

I like how you focus on his perseverance and discipline and him always giving his all.

NIce post..Prince was a man of integrity, independence, committment, and pride. But there is a flip side of that coin (of strength) that can actually be heard in the sad and painful tones of his Piano and Microphone performance of Heros and Dolphin. That integrity, independence, committment and pride can take its toll and it can be its own weakness in a way. It can be a crutch and a way to run away from fear. Its like when actors are asked how they have the strength to continue plugging away at their careers even after years of rejection and ego-crushing disappointment--they basically says they don't have a choice and they don't have any other place in society where they belong. Prince's real strength might be evident in that he didn't let any fear, loss or disappointment cripple him, but letting go of one obsessions (music, career) can be a strength as well. And he certainly wasn't strong in all ways.

I actually prefer Prince's integrity (despite the 'assless' pants and forays into rap) to his strength. At times, it feels like his strength was really just his running away from his problems and demons into the self-imposed and self-protective bubble of music and work. You can appear too strong to the world so then when you are suffering the world doesn't know to help you. His music has a certain pain to it--like he was reaching out, but it was too vague to be of any use to him while he was alive. Its only in retrospect that it becomes apparent.

[Edited 3/4/17 7:12am]

[Edited 3/4/17 7:14am]

[Edited 3/4/17 7:14am]

[Edited 3/4/17 7:16am]

KoolEaze said:

purplerabbithole said:

His body does get in the way a little bit. Musically, he is exquisite. But I am afraid his estate will be reluctant to realize the pro-shot concert footage because his physical frailty will be too upsetting to sell. They maybe should just release a good audio recording on cd or for streaming.

donnyenglish said:

purplerabbithole said:

NIce post..Prince was a man of integrity, independence, committment, and pride. But there is a flip side of that coin (of strength) that can actually be heard in the sad and painful tones of his Piano and Microphone performance of Heros and Dolphin. That integrity, independence, committment and pride can take its toll and it can be its own weakness in a way. It can be a crutch and a way to run away from fear. Its like when actors are asked how they have the strength to continue plugging away at their careers even after years of rejection and ego-crushing disappointment--they basically says they don't have a choice and they don't have any other place in society where they belong. Prince's real strength might be evident in that he didn't let any fear, loss or disappointment cripple him, but letting go of one obsessions (music, career) can be a strength as well. And he certainly wasn't strong in all ways.

I actually prefer Prince's integrity (despite the 'assless' pants and forays into rap) to his strength. At times, it feels like his strength was really just his running away from his problems and demons into the self-imposed and self-protective bubble of music and work. You can appear too strong to the world so then when you are suffering the world doesn't know to help you. His music has a certain pain to it--like he was reaching out, but it was too vague to be of any use to him while he was alive. Its only in retrospect that it becomes apparent.

[Edited 3/4/17 7:12am]

[Edited 3/4/17 7:14am]

[Edited 3/4/17 7:14am]

[Edited 3/4/17 7:16am]

Exactly. You hear that nuance of vulnerability vs. strength when he sings dolphin/heroes. I absolutely love the Toronto video that is ciruoating. It is almost fitting that you cannot see him, but can look at the fractal mandala behind him. It almost captures the intimacy of the shows for those who were not there. It was almost as if you closed your eyes while at these shows that you became closer to the essence of him. His body was almost in the way of it all because those shows were his spirit.

[Edited 3/4/17 11:04am]

donnyenglish said:

I most admire Prince for his toughness. He was this tiny pretty dude who was scrappy and tough. He didn't miss performances and would give his all to the extent that many believe ultilately caused the injuries that led to his death. He truly "left it all on the field." I think about the Emancipation Day performance shortly after he lost his son. His legendary work ethic also took extraordinary toughness. The man never slept and could outwork anyone in the industry. I admire this man so much for his toughness and it inspires me to persevere in the face of adversity the way he did. Obviously, his childhood was tough. He was essentially a nomad during his important adolescent years living with multiple family and friends. He was bullied and perhaps a victim of child abuse. But my hero and Prince persevered and overcame all of those challenges. He took on the music industry by himself and never flinched. He probably lost a lot of money in the process but he never backed down from his principles. That took a lot of courage. He was also tough as nails when it came to competing with other musicians. His performance at the Rock and Roll Hall of fame was like Tom Brady in the Super Bowl. The Kid reminded the world that he was the undisputed greatest of all time. The way he led his bands, his business and his humanitarian efforts are all proof that this little dude who was bullied his whole life became a truly great leader who was not to be messed with. Sadly, his final few weeks showed just how tough my heruo was. My Prince died after a long fought civil war and I am so proud of the way he died. His performance at his last concert was brilliant despite the fact that he was a very sick man in his final days of life. After the concert, he did not let the de-elevator bring him down. He fought and lived until his last breath. He had a party for his beloved fans at Paisley Park, rode his bike, released music, recorded music, hung out with friends, etc. My Prince was unafraid of the death that left me hypnotized. I love the music and the message. But, I respect the hell out of his toughness. I cannot help but think about his performances of Dolphin/Heroes during his final performances. Our tough Prince did not bend to the ways of anyone or anything. He has come back in the end as a hero for the entire world. [Edited 3/4/17 4:31am]

I think I get what you mean...in other words, he died with his boots on.

I will leave it to others to dissect your comments. I will just say thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Not a day goes by when I don't think some of the same things and I expect that to continue for the rest of my own life.

donnyenglish said:

I most admire Prince for his toughness. He was this tiny pretty dude who was scrappy and tough. He didn't miss performances and would give his all to the extent that many believe ultilately caused the injuries that led to his death. He truly "left it all on the field." I think about the Emancipation Day performance shortly after he lost his son. His legendary work ethic also took extraordinary toughness. The man never slept and could outwork anyone in the industry. I admire this man so much for his toughness and it inspires me to persevere in the face of adversity the way he did. Obviously, his childhood was tough. He was essentially a nomad during his important adolescent years living with multiple family and friends. He was bullied and perhaps a victim of child abuse. But my hero and Prince persevered and overcame all of those challenges. He took on the music industry by himself and never flinched. He probably lost a lot of money in the process but he never backed down from his principles. That took a lot of courage. He was also tough as nails when it came to competing with other musicians. His performance at the Rock and Roll Hall of fame was like Tom Brady in the Super Bowl. The Kid reminded the world that he was the undisputed greatest of all time. The way he led his bands, his business and his humanitarian efforts are all proof that this little dude who was bullied his whole life became a truly great leader who was not to be messed with. Sadly, his final few weeks showed just how tough my heruo was. My Prince died after a long fought civil war and I am so proud of the way he died. His performance at his last concert was brilliant despite the fact that he was a very sick man in his final days of life. After the concert, he did not let the de-elevator bring him down. He fought and lived until his last breath. He had a party for his beloved fans at Paisley Park, rode his bike, released music, recorded music, hung out with friends, etc. My Prince was unafraid of the death that left me hypnotized. I love the music and the message. But, I respect the hell out of his toughness. I cannot help but think about his performances of Dolphin/Heroes during his final performances. Our tough Prince did not bend to the ways of anyone or anything. He has come back in the end as a hero for the entire world. [Edited 3/4/17 4:31am]

Very nice.

Doozer said:

Completely love your description and totally agree with everything you wrote, with one exception that I'll get to below. He was an incredible talent, a fighter, a workaholic and, fortunately for all of us, an enduring spirit. His life is something that made a world very proud, which is amazing considering how the first 16 years of his life started. What I disagree with is being "proud of the way he died." I am not embarrassed by it, but it will sadden me deeply for the rest of my life. He was a man with resources beyond nearly anyone, but fell victim to a drug that affects our most common denominator. His own brilliance and work ethic ended up getting the best of his personal health. While I would bet that in itself is how Prince would have liked to have gone out - by living for his music above all else - no one should die alone like he did. I don't think even he realized how much love the world had for him.

Doozer, I totally agree. He seemed to have a hard time taking a couple of days of for some R & R (rest and relaxation). I also wonder if the constant work/making music was his means of avoiding some of the problems and traumas he faced. I wonder if he ever came to terms with some of the traumatic events in his life and was able to mentally move on from them. Or instead of coming to terms with the traumas through reflection, counseling, or other therapies, did he sweep these problems under the rug. My guess is that he used painkillers not just for physical pain, but for emotional pain as well. I think he knew that he was loved, but it's quite possible that he was still lonely. It's not enough to just be around people. It's important to have emotional intimacy with people. And while he had friends, he didn't have anyone there all the time with him, a wife or significant other. He had more life to live though. He had his book that he was writing and more music in him.

--

He is deeply missed.

206Michelle said:

donnyenglish said:

I most admire Prince for his toughness. He was this tiny pretty dude who was scrappy and tough. He didn't miss performances and would give his all to the extent that many believe ultilately caused the injuries that led to his death. He truly "left it all on the field." I think about the Emancipation Day performance shortly after he lost his son. His legendary work ethic also took extraordinary toughness. The man never slept and could outwork anyone in the industry. I admire this man so much for his toughness and it inspires me to persevere in the face of adversity the way he did. Obviously, his childhood was tough. He was essentially a nomad during his important adolescent years living with multiple family and friends. He was bullied and perhaps a victim of child abuse. But my hero and Prince persevered and overcame all of those challenges. He took on the music industry by himself and never flinched. He probably lost a lot of money in the process but he never backed down from his principles. That took a lot of courage. He was also tough as nails when it came to competing with other musicians. His performance at the Rock and Roll Hall of fame was like Tom Brady in the Super Bowl. The Kid reminded the world that he was the undisputed greatest of all time. The way he led his bands, his business and his humanitarian efforts are all proof that this little dude who was bullied his whole life became a truly great leader who was not to be messed with. Sadly, his final few weeks showed just how tough my heruo was. My Prince died after a long fought civil war and I am so proud of the way he died. His performance at his last concert was brilliant despite the fact that he was a very sick man in his final days of life. After the concert, he did not let the de-elevator bring him down. He fought and lived until his last breath. He had a party for his beloved fans at Paisley Park, rode his bike, released music, recorded music, hung out with friends, etc. My Prince was unafraid of the death that left me hypnotized. I love the music and the message. But, I respect the hell out of his toughness. I cannot help but think about his performances of Dolphin/Heroes during his final performances. Our tough Prince did not bend to the ways of anyone or anything. He has come back in the end as a hero for the entire world. [Edited 3/4/17 4:31am]

I love your narrative of his life. A different viewpoint for an exceptional man. Well said.

donnyenglish said:

I most admire Prince for his toughness. He was this tiny pretty dude who was scrappy and tough. He didn't miss performances and would give his all to the extent that many believe ultilately caused the injuries that led to his death. He truly "left it all on the field." I think about the Emancipation Day performance shortly after he lost his son. His legendary work ethic also took extraordinary toughness. The man never slept and could outwork anyone in the industry. I admire this man so much for his toughness and it inspires me to persevere in the face of adversity the way he did. Obviously, his childhood was tough. He was essentially a nomad during his important adolescent years living with multiple family and friends. He was bullied and perhaps a victim of child abuse. But my hero and Prince persevered and overcame all of those challenges. He took on the music industry by himself and never flinched. He probably lost a lot of money in the process but he never backed down from his principles. That took a lot of courage. He was also tough as nails when it came to competing with other musicians. His performance at the Rock and Roll Hall of fame was like Tom Brady in the Super Bowl. The Kid reminded the world that he was the undisputed greatest of all time. The way he led his bands, his business and his humanitarian efforts are all proof that this little dude who was bullied his whole life became a truly great leader who was not to be messed with. Sadly, his final few weeks showed just how tough my heruo was. My Prince died after a long fought civil war and I am so proud of the way he died. His performance at his last concert was brilliant despite the fact that he was a very sick man in his final days of life. After the concert, he did not let the de-elevator bring him down. He fought and lived until his last breath. He had a party for his beloved fans at Paisley Park, rode his bike, released music, recorded music, hung out with friends, etc. My Prince was unafraid of the death that left me hypnotized. I love the music and the message. But, I respect the hell out of his toughness. I cannot help but think about his performances of Dolphin/Heroes during his final performances. Our tough Prince did not bend to the ways of anyone or anything. He has come back in the end as a hero for the entire world. [Edited 3/4/17 4:31am]

that's the thing that i can't get over, he was inhuman in his constitution, i just never saw him going that way and I still strongly suspect that something else was responsible. Susan rogers asked what one quality he had and she said "courage" and said she almost said discipline but courage won out because of how hard he worked, how he worked no matter how he felt. I recall hearing how he injured his ankle and still finished the show, a serious injury and he still finished the show.

other day i sprained my back and the first thing i did was became more careful in the heavy work i was doing, i finised out the job but i was in horrible pain. Pain is distracting, pain makes you impatient and I found myself wondering how Prince was able to betray any signs of pain, you don't see much evidence of him hobbling around or being short tempered with people. I still just don't get it at all.

KoolEaze said:

Nice read but I´d replace Rock and Roll Hall of Fame performance with the Superbowl performance because that one was seen by more people and the performance was much more against all odds than the RRHOF show.

But then again, I´m probably the only one on the org who wasn´t that much into that RRHOF performance. It was good but nowhere near the most memorable performances, in my opinion at least.

I like how you focus on his perseverance and discipline and him always giving his all.

the superbowl was a good performance but he'd made the comeback a couple years before, it wasn't like he was wowing everyone, he played his hits a couple covers and did it in the face of horrible circumtances with the rain.

the rrhall of fame was a special, special moment, i still remember how proud i was when he tore that solo to shreds and i knew this moment would be one of the highlights of his career and I knew right then that that would be talked about for years.

I agree. I was SuperBowl and it was impressive, but the RR hall of fame just blew my mind.

PeteSilas said:

KoolEaze said:

Nice read but I´d replace Rock and Roll Hall of Fame performance with the Superbowl performance because that one was seen by more people and the performance was much more against all odds than the RRHOF show.

But then again, I´m probably the only one on the org who wasn´t that much into that RRHOF performance. It was good but nowhere near the most memorable performances, in my opinion at least.

I like how you focus on his perseverance and discipline and him always giving his all.

the superbowl was a good performance but he'd made the comeback a couple years before, it wasn't like he was wowing everyone, he played his hits a couple covers and did it in the face of horrible circumtances with the rain.

the rrhall of fame was a special, special moment, i still remember how proud i was when he tore that solo to shreds and i knew this moment would be one of the highlights of his career and I knew right then that that would be talked about for years.

PeteSilas said:

KoolEaze said:

Nice read but I´d replace Rock and Roll Hall of Fame performance with the Superbowl performance because that one was seen by more people and the performance was much more against all odds than the RRHOF show.

But then again, I´m probably the only one on the org who wasn´t that much into that RRHOF performance. It was good but nowhere near the most memorable performances, in my opinion at least.

I like how you focus on his perseverance and discipline and him always giving his all.

the superbowl was a good performance but he'd made the comeback a couple years before, it wasn't like he was wowing everyone, he played his hits a couple covers and did it in the face of horrible circumtances with the rain.

the rrhall of fame was a special, special moment, i still remember how proud i was when he tore that solo to shreds and i knew this moment would be one of the highlights of his career and I knew right then that that would be talked about for years.

I agree that the RRHOF performance was an incredibly special moment. It's one of his greatest guitar solos ever. It's hard to compare the Super Bowl performance and the RRHOF performance because the conditions were so different. However, I think that the Super Bowl performance was more impactful in general because there were 100 million+ people watching live on TV whereas I don't even know if the RRHOF performance was televised.

donnyenglish, that was well said and lovely.

donnyenglish said:

I most admire Prince for his toughness. He was this tiny pretty dude who was scrappy and tough. He didn't miss performances and would give his all to the extent that many believe ultilately caused the injuries that led to his death. He truly "left it all on the field." I think about the Emancipation Day performance shortly after he lost his son. His legendary work ethic also took extraordinary toughness. The man never slept and could outwork anyone in the industry. I admire this man so much for his toughness and it inspires me to persevere in the face of adversity the way he did. Obviously, his childhood was tough. He was essentially a nomad during his important adolescent years living with multiple family and friends. He was bullied and perhaps a victim of child abuse. But my hero and Prince persevered and overcame all of those challenges. He took on the music industry by himself and never flinched. He probably lost a lot of money in the process but he never backed down from his principles. That took a lot of courage. He was also tough as nails when it came to competing with other musicians. His performance at the Rock and Roll Hall of fame was like Tom Brady in the Super Bowl. The Kid reminded the world that he was the undisputed greatest of all time. The way he led his bands, his business and his humanitarian efforts are all proof that this little dude who was bullied his whole life became a truly great leader who was not to be messed with. Sadly, his final few weeks showed just how tough my heruo was. My Prince died after a long fought civil war and I am so proud of the way he died. His performance at his last concert was brilliant despite the fact that he was a very sick man in his final days of life. After the concert, he did not let the de-elevator bring him down. He fought and lived until his last breath. He had a party for his beloved fans at Paisley Park, rode his bike, released music, recorded music, hung out with friends, etc. My Prince was unafraid of the death that left me hypnotized. I love the music and the message. But, I respect the hell out of his toughness. I cannot help but think about his performances of Dolphin/Heroes during his final performances. Our tough Prince did not bend to the ways of anyone or anything. He has come back in the end as a hero for the entire world. [Edited 3/4/17 4:31am]

donnyenglish said:

I most admire Prince for his toughness. He was this tiny pretty dude who was scrappy and tough. He didn't miss performances and would give his all to the extent that many believe ultilately caused the injuries that led to his death. He truly "left it all on the field." I think about the Emancipation Day performance shortly after he lost his son. His legendary work ethic also took extraordinary toughness. The man never slept and could outwork anyone in the industry. I admire this man so much for his toughness and it inspires me to persevere in the face of adversity the way he did. Obviously, his childhood was tough. He was essentially a nomad during his important adolescent years living with multiple family and friends. He was bullied and perhaps a victim of child abuse. But my hero and Prince persevered and overcame all of those challenges. He took on the music industry by himself and never flinched. He probably lost a lot of money in the process but he never backed down from his principles. That took a lot of courage. He was also tough as nails when it came to competing with other musicians. His performance at the Rock and Roll Hall of fame was like Tom Brady in the Super Bowl. The Kid reminded the world that he was the undisputed greatest of all time. The way he led his bands, his business and his humanitarian efforts are all proof that this little dude who was bullied his whole life became a truly great leader who was not to be messed with. Sadly, his final few weeks showed just how tough my heruo was. My Prince died after a long fought civil war and I am so proud of the way he died. His performance at his last concert was brilliant despite the fact that he was a very sick man in his final days of life. After the concert, he did not let the de-elevator bring him down. He fought and lived until his last breath. He had a party for his beloved fans at Paisley Park, rode his bike, released music, recorded music, hung out with friends, etc. My Prince was unafraid of the death that left me hypnotized. I love the music and the message. But, I respect the hell out of his toughness. I cannot help but think about his performances of Dolphin/Heroes during his final performances. Our tough Prince did not bend to the ways of anyone or anything. He has come back in the end as a hero for the entire world. [Edited 3/4/17 4:31am]

I just cried again...

LOVED THIS POST and agree with you 100%

206Michelle said:

PeteSilas said:

the superbowl was a good performance but he'd made the comeback a couple years before, it wasn't like he was wowing everyone, he played his hits a couple covers and did it in the face of horrible circumtances with the rain.

the rrhall of fame was a special, special moment, i still remember how proud i was when he tore that solo to shreds and i knew this moment would be one of the highlights of his career and I knew right then that that would be talked about for years.

I agree that the RRHOF performance was an incredibly special moment. It's one of his greatest guitar solos ever. It's hard to compare the Super Bowl performance and the RRHOF performance because the conditions were so different. However, I think that the Super Bowl performance was more impactful in general because there were 100 million+ people watching live on TV whereas I don't even know if the RRHOF performance was televised.

RRHOF performance was televised. - Was televised on HBO and has been viewed 5 million times on YOUTUBE

donnyenglish said:

donnyenglish said:

purplerabbithole said:

Exactly. You hear that nuance of vulnerability vs. strength when he sings dolphin/heroes. I absolutely love the Toronto video that is ciruoating. It is almost fitting that you cannot see him, but can look at the fractal mandala behind him. It almost captures the intimacy of the shows for those who were not there. It was almost as if you closed your eyes while at these shows that you became closer to the essence of him. His body was almost in the way of it all because those shows were his spirit.

Donnyenglish, I'm mosty a lurker here. " />

But what you wrote inspired me to sign in, just to say thank you. " />

First, Thank you for encapsulating the key points of his life that demonstrate that his death was a beautiful continuation of how he lived - full throttle. Just him and his creator and his creativity. It was never a plane that made human existence easy.

And thank you for mentioning the Dolphin/ Heroes in Toronto. OMG I don't know how I missed that considering how much time I spend scouring the internet for any tidbit of music, photos, articles about him. It is stunningy beautiful to me. And such better quality than recordings from Atlanta. 😭 I'm so, so, so, glad I found it before it's removed by UMG.

And lastly, thank you for the poetic imagae of of the mandala being his essence. I'm not sure you meant it that way exactly but I have this image of his last tour being a process of sublimation (the transition of a substance from solid to a gas, or in this case spirit). 💜💜💜

When I watch the RRHOF clip, the best thing, other than Prince doing his amazing guitar solo, is watching the complete look of joy that is on George Harrison's son's face as he realizes that he is watching a musical God make history by playing a homage to his father. It makes me smile and tear up at the same time. Truly amazing.

PeteSilas said:

KoolEaze said:

Nice read but I´d replace Rock and Roll Hall of Fame performance with the Superbowl performance because that one was seen by more people and the performance was much more against all odds than the RRHOF show.

But then again, I´m probably the only one on the org who wasn´t that much into that RRHOF performance. It was good but nowhere near the most memorable performances, in my opinion at least.

I like how you focus on his perseverance and discipline and him always giving his all.

the superbowl was a good performance but he'd made the comeback a couple years before, it wasn't like he was wowing everyone, he played his hits a couple covers and did it in the face of horrible circumtances with the rain.

the rrhall of fame was a special, special moment, i still remember how proud i was when he tore that solo to shreds and i knew this moment would be one of the highlights of his career and I knew right then that that would be talked about for years.