Apologies for the blunt subject matter, but I am just being honest.

When he died, I didn't experience any of the emotions I thought I would. I would see all the tributes, all the fans mourning, all the posts of grief on the org and I couldn't relate to any of it. I had been a huge Prince fan since the mid-90s, and I had listened to his music constantly from then right up until his death. I was even listening to a Prince album when I heard about his passing. But when I found out he had died, it left me cold. I didn't play him hardly at all at the time and when I did return to listening to him, it didn't trigger any emotions in me that way it did when MJ or Bowie died. I know this sounds cold, but I couldn't and still don't understand why I wasn't more upset about his passing.

I think having been a mega MJ fan my entire life, my grief was all spent out in 2009 as MJ's death really cut me up and then a bunch of other artists I loved died shortly before Prince, like Bowie (which really upset me) and Scott Weiland (who I really loved), so by the time Prince came around, I just felt numb to it.

I never quite understood why I felt this way, as I was always a far bigger Prince fan than those other artists. Prince and MJ were both like Gods to me growing up, and I've probably spent more time listening to Prince's music than any other musician/artist/band.

Did anyone else experience something similar to this?

damn, I am not in the same boat as you two... it affected my like my own limb was cut off, or my family stomped to death.

Yeaaaaaah no, I was eating breakfast at a restaurant and when I heard the news I ran to the bathroom and shed a few tears

Analyzing your response to the death of person you never met and never would. This is going to sound old-fashioned but my advice is to get a grip on yourself. Gotta love the internet.

pricetag said:

Analyzing your response to the death of person you never met and never would. This is going to sound old-fashioned but my advice is to get a grip on yourself. Gotta love the internet.

so there's nobody throughout history that you've felt an emotional connection to, even though you've never met them?

.

[Edited 10/10/18 15:52pm]

ufoclub said:

damn, I am not in the same boat as you two... it affected my like my own limb was cut off, or my family stomped to death.

Co-sign.

I´m still trying to cope.

To each...their own. It's as simple as that. Many times in these last couple of years, I've often wanted and TRIED to feel completely numb about it but for whatever reason and purpose...it's become pretty damn clear to me that I can't and I won't!

MoBettaBliss said:

MattyJam said:

Apologies for the blunt subject matter, but I am just being honest.

When he died, I didn't experience any of the emotions I thought I would. I would see all the tributes, all the fans mourning, all the posts of grief on the org and I couldn't relate to any of it. I had been a huge Prince fan since the mid-90s, and I had listened to his music constantly from then right up until his death. I was even listening to a Prince album when I heard about his passing. But when I found out he had died, it left me cold. I didn't play him hardly at all at the time and when I did return to listening to him, it didn't trigger any emotions in me that way it did when MJ or Bowie died. I know this sounds cold, but I couldn't and still don't understand why I wasn't more upset about his passing.

I think having been a mega MJ fan my entire life, my grief was all spent out in 2009 as MJ's death really cut me up and then a bunch of other artists I loved died shortly before Prince, like Bowie (which really upset me) and Scott Weiland (who I really loved), so by the time Prince came around, I just felt numb to it.

I never quite understood why I felt this way, as I was always a far bigger Prince fan than those other artists. Prince and MJ were both like Gods to me growing up, and I've probably spent more time listening to Prince's music than any other musician/artist/band.

Did anyone else experience something similar to this?

my first thought on that day was "oh, he died, wow, i really don't feel anything" It took my by such surprise and I had a lot on my mind so it took longer to sink in. I laso thought "well, i've lost mj and my idol hector camacho, maybe i'm getting numb to losing heroes" lo and behold, the prince death hurt worse than those and those hurt. Is it wierd not being hurt? I don't know, alot of people would think it's wierd being hurt over anyone who didn't know you existed or that you'd never met in real life. But those people are assholes. I get weepy watching sad documentaries, one of the most painful was a N. Korean docu where they showed a young boy thrown out on the streets by his parents and he survived by scavaging, he wore shoes from a grown man that he stole out of a garbage can. I don't really like a race of beings that can allow that to happen to one of their own, so, fuck those people who say it's wierd. I'd adopt that kid if I could.

MattyJam said:

Apologies for the blunt subject matter, but I am just being honest.

When he died, I didn't experience any of the emotions I thought I would. I would see all the tributes, all the fans mourning, all the posts of grief on the org and I couldn't relate to any of it. I had been a huge Prince fan since the mid-90s, and I had listened to his music constantly from then right up until his death. I was even listening to a Prince album when I heard about his passing. But when I found out he had died, it left me cold. I didn't play him hardly at all at the time and when I did return to listening to him, it didn't trigger any emotions in me that way it did when MJ or Bowie died. I know this sounds cold, but I couldn't and still don't understand why I wasn't more upset about his passing.

I think having been a mega MJ fan my entire life, my grief was all spent out in 2009 as MJ's death really cut me up and then a bunch of other artists I loved died shortly before Prince, like Bowie (which really upset me) and Scott Weiland (who I really loved), so by the time Prince came around, I just felt numb to it.

I never quite understood why I felt this way, as I was always a far bigger Prince fan than those other artists. Prince and MJ were both like Gods to me growing up, and I've probably spent more time listening to Prince's music than any other musician/artist/band.

Did anyone else experience something similar to this?

I feel this way: The Prince we know and love wasn't the real human guy.

Most of us know and love the persona, the art, the music. All of that is still very much alive.

-

It is well documented that Prince's poured his true self (thoughts/feelings/insecurities/humor) into his music and lyrics. The end result? I feel very grateful that Prince crafted his art in such a way that we can still have him when he's in "the afterworld." Especially considering how much of it we have yet to hear. Selfish as it may sound, we are still getting an album of new Prince music every year or so.

-

Bottom line: If you ever want Prince, just push the play button. You'll always find him in the music.

[Edited 10/10/18 20:26pm]

To be perfectly honest with all of you, Princes death never made any major impact on my life at all!! When the news broke, I obviously went into shock and disbelief. Living in the UK, news broke in the afternoon, due to the time difference, so I spent that afternoon in shock, but woke up the next day, moreorless "business as usual" in my life!! After all, how can I mourn the death of someone who I never KNEW on a personal level, wasnt close to me, wasnt my best friend or even a relative?? He wasnt someone I hung out with socially, he didnt come round my house or I didnt go round his house for tea, coffee, whatever and we certainly never met at a Starbucks or wherever!!LOLOLOL. I still dont have any mournful feelings over his death to this day!! I play the music, but it doesnt bring up in me any periods of mourning and I certainly dont cry over his passing as I have something called a LIFE!!!! I even cant be assed to keep up with all the latest posthumous releases(or lack thereof), either of a physical nature or online!! I see all the pics of fans at various meetups, events, at the Paisley Park Museum, etc. on Facebook, Instagram, and other social media outlets and they are all parading around wearing all the Prince regalia and, in all honesty, I think they are a load of immature, childish, brainwashed idiots, who, obviously, dont have anything else to live for in their pathetic lives!!

LIFE GOES ON!!!

I am a music-lover and many musicians have touched me. I have studied the lives of many of my favorite musicians/singers such as Jerry Garcia, Leon Russell, Elvis, Gram Parsons, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash,

Joni Mitchell, Brian Wilson etc., but none have affected me the way Prince has. He seemed to have such depth and magnetism. I had zero feelings when MJ died.

I have annoyed my friends and family with many enthusiastic stories about the aforementioned musicians but my zeal would usually subside after several months. With Prince, this feeling is lasting much much longer. Sometimes I wonder if he somehow hypnotized me! Or used that mental telepathy thing?

[Edited 10/10/18 22:43pm]

PeteSilas said:

I was moved.

It didn't affect me like, IDK, my cat or my best friend dying, but I was moved.

I learned it on Friday night, right before going to bed. I played ONA and went to sleep with a sleeping pill, I didn't want to think about it all night. Then I spent the weekend alone at home, chatting with people here and other fans, and watching Prince vids and stuff. It was a special moment, I felt I had to share it with those who were affected by it as well. I just needed this little weekend to say goodbye. The Summertime rehearsal video shared by Steve Purcell brought some tears to my eyes.

I felt sad because it was the end of a 27 years long journey of me growing alongside Prince, each of his new records being the soundtrack of each respective era of my life, his new lyrics often resonating with my state of mind of the moment, and I didn't expected this journey to end that soon, and I knew it would change a certain dynamic in my life. I had lost a landmark. But Prince as a person was a stranger. I stranger I respected most, a stranger whose work had changed my life, but a stranger nevertheless.

Then it was Monday and I had to work and life got back to normal and I didn't feel much about it anymore. It just felt a little unreal for a long time when I'd seriously stop and think about it, and after this first weekend the only time I got emotional about it was when I wrote my article in homage to Prince and the impact he'd had on my life, six months later.

There is a loss that I can feel, the end of a very important subplot in the narrative in my little personal saga. But I can't say I was overwhelmed by sadness or pain.

On the other hand, except in one very specific case under very specific circumstances, death has always been something I could move on from quite easily past the emotion of the moment. Life just takes over, very quickly. So it may be those people who say Prince's death over affected them are simply those kind of people who mourn their relatives and friends for years when they die. I just don't see the point in doing that.

[Edited 10/11/18 2:01am]

pricetag said:

Analyzing your response to the death of person you never met and never would. This is going to sound old-fashioned but my advice is to get a grip on yourself. Gotta love the internet.

Wow, all I can say is, I'm so glad I'm not like you.

PeteSilas said:

MattyJam said:

Apologies for the blunt subject matter, but I am just being honest.

When he died, I didn't experience any of the emotions I thought I would. I would see all the tributes, all the fans mourning, all the posts of grief on the org and I couldn't relate to any of it. I had been a huge Prince fan since the mid-90s, and I had listened to his music constantly from then right up until his death. I was even listening to a Prince album when I heard about his passing. But when I found out he had died, it left me cold. I didn't play him hardly at all at the time and when I did return to listening to him, it didn't trigger any emotions in me that way it did when MJ or Bowie died. I know this sounds cold, but I couldn't and still don't understand why I wasn't more upset about his passing.

I think having been a mega MJ fan my entire life, my grief was all spent out in 2009 as MJ's death really cut me up and then a bunch of other artists I loved died shortly before Prince, like Bowie (which really upset me) and Scott Weiland (who I really loved), so by the time Prince came around, I just felt numb to it.

I never quite understood why I felt this way, as I was always a far bigger Prince fan than those other artists. Prince and MJ were both like Gods to me growing up, and I've probably spent more time listening to Prince's music than any other musician/artist/band.

Did anyone else experience something similar to this?

my first thought on that day was "oh, he died, wow, i really don't feel anything" It took my by such surprise and I had a lot on my mind so it took longer to sink in. I laso thought "well, i've lost mj and my idol hector camacho, maybe i'm getting numb to losing heroes" lo and behold, the prince death hurt worse than those and those hurt. Is it wierd not being hurt? I don't know, alot of people would think it's wierd being hurt over anyone who didn't know you existed or that you'd never met in real life. But those people are assholes. I get weepy watching sad documentaries, one of the most painful was a N. Korean docu where they showed a young boy thrown out on the streets by his parents and he survived by scavaging, he wore shoes from a grown man that he stole out of a garbage can. I don't really like a race of beings that can allow that to happen to one of their own, so, fuck those people who say it's wierd. I'd adopt that kid if I could.

Thanks for your honest and thoughtful reply.

I guess the reason I analysed it the way I did, is because my feelings about Prince's death were in such sharp contrast to how I felt when we lost MJ and, to a lesser extent, Bowie.

It didn't compute or make sense in my head, as I was probably a bigger Prince fan than anybody, possibly even MJ, so it just struck me as really odd how deeply I felt MJs loss and how indifferent I felt about Prince's.

As for these folks who harp on about how you don't have a life if you mourn the loss of a publc figure, you're right, they are assholes. I have a wife, I have a child, I have a good job, a mortgage, friends and more hobbies than I have time for. And I personally think it'd be weird to NOT feel something when somebody you've followed closely in the public eye, whose art has resonated and touched your life deeply passes. Even though that was actually the case with me and Prince, I would hate to be so cold, unfeeling and generally lacking in empathy for my fellow fans who did feel that strong sense of loss in their lives when he died.

[Edited 10/11/18 0:31am]

I wasn't numb, it took a few hours for the emotions (aka tears) to come in, but the shock set in really quick. In fact, I woke up to it

You know me Matty, we're both fans of P and MJ. To lose both artists who meant so much to me....the shock was immense on April 21st. It was the feeling of "Wait....Prince?! Prince isn't supposed to die!"

Later that day, it was the thought of, "I'm never going to be able to say 'thank you' for bringing so much....joy to my life" or just thank you in general is when the waterworks came....and they came HARD

People say cringing over celebrities is stupid....those people can fuck right off When someone leaves such an impact on you, the emotion, the memories...those are real. You develop an admiration and an attachment to that person.

EmmaMcG said:

You're definitely not alone. When the news broke about Prince's death I thought of it in the same manner as I did when I heard of Michael Jackson's death. I thought it was a shame to see an artist I liked die but I was more upset about not getting anymore new Prince albums in the future. I know that's very selfish of me but that's how I felt. My mother died a couple of years before Prince so given that her death was still fresh, it kind of puts things in perspective. Why would I get upset about the death of a man I didn't know when I've already experienced the death of actual family members. His death pales in comparison to theirs. I was more affected by the death of George Michael than I was of Prince. His death felt like more of a tragedy to me. Prince's death was too predictable.

how was his death predictable? unless you had more info than the rest of us, I can't see how that is. And certainly no more predictable than that basketcase george (don't get me wrong, I'm a fan) who was in and out of jails, bathrooms, rehabs, jumping out of cars. No excuse for either one though really, you get all those resources and you use them to destroy yourself.

i wasn't responding to your post per se but that sentiment which i've read before on here. anyway, MJ was much more shocking, much, much more and I wasn't alone, everyone was shocked. He was the first of the idols of my youth i lost, then i lost a boxing hero and then Prince so it wasn't like new territory. In fact I was pretty pissed at HIM because I knew what i'd have to go through trying to get to the bottom of it all, bickering fans, immaturity, lies, rumours and so it goes.

MattyJam said:

PeteSilas said:

my first thought on that day was "oh, he died, wow, i really don't feel anything" It took my by such surprise and I had a lot on my mind so it took longer to sink in. I laso thought "well, i've lost mj and my idol hector camacho, maybe i'm getting numb to losing heroes" lo and behold, the prince death hurt worse than those and those hurt. Is it wierd not being hurt? I don't know, alot of people would think it's wierd being hurt over anyone who didn't know you existed or that you'd never met in real life. But those people are assholes. I get weepy watching sad documentaries, one of the most painful was a N. Korean docu where they showed a young boy thrown out on the streets by his parents and he survived by scavaging, he wore shoes from a grown man that he stole out of a garbage can. I don't really like a race of beings that can allow that to happen to one of their own, so, fuck those people who say it's wierd. I'd adopt that kid if I could.

Thanks for your honest and thoughtful reply.

I guess the reason I analysed it the way I did, is because my feelings about Prince's death were in such sharp contrast to how I felt when we lost MJ and, to a lesser extent, Bowie.

It didn't compute or make sense in my head, as I was probably a bigger Prince fan than anybody, possibly even MJ, so it just struck me as really odd how deeply I felt MJs loss and how indifferent I felt about Prince's.

As for these folks who harp on about how you don't have a life if you mourn the loss of a publc figure, you're right, they are assholes. I have a wife, I have a child, I have a good job, a mortgage, friends and more hobbies than I have time for. And I personally think it'd be weird to NOT feel something when somebody you've followed closely in the public eye, whose art has resonated and touched your life deeply passes. Even though that was actually the case with me and Prince, I would hate to be so cold, unfeeling and generally lacking in empathy for my fellow fans who did feel that strong sense of loss in their lives when he died.

[Edited 10/11/18 0:31am]

PeteSilas said:

EmmaMcG said:

PeteSilas said:

how was his death predictable? unless you had more info than the rest of us, I can't see how that is. And certainly no more predictable than that basketcase george (don't get me wrong, I'm a fan) who was in and out of jails, bathrooms, rehabs, jumping out of cars. No excuse for either one though really, you get all those resources and you use them to destroy yourself.

When Prince was taken off that plane a week before he died, I said to my cousin that he'll be dead within the week. And he was. His appearance at the Grammys a couple of months prior to that was also a major sign that he was not a well man. I know a lot of people have rightly said that he was starting to show his age but you could tell by looking at him that it wasn't just the aging process that made him look so bad. He looked gaunt, skinnier than usual and tired. Very similar to how Michael Jackson looked during the rehearsals for his This Is It shows. I know several of the dancers who were working with him on those shows and they all said that MJ wouldn't last for all 50 shows. Prince and Michael Jackson both worked themselves into early graves and they were predictable and preventable deaths. George Michael had his issues but they mainly stemmed from severe depression. By all accounts, he was never the same after his mother passed away. I suppose there was a certain amount of predictability to his death too but in the months leading up to his death he announced he was planning a new album and tour, from the outside he seemed to be in a good place. So the fact that he died on Christmas day was a bit of a surprise.

he didn't look well, or himself, but what did you put in on? just out of curiousity, not arguing. I've been facsinated by several people who had premonitions going back to 2012 that he'd be gone in 5 years. As far as MJ, did the dancers mean he wouldn't make it physically through the shows or that he'd die? He did not look like he was working very hard to me and from the sounds of it he skipped a lot of rehearsals, apples and oranges in comparison to prince, mj had lost interest in music a long time before, prince squoze everything he could out of himself.

When I first heard I almost laughed because I saw it on Facebook first and I immediately thought it was a hoax type thing, or a stupid joke. I didn't really believe it for the first 24 hours and felt nothing at all for two days. Like I needed to have it confirmed many times to really believe it. And even after watching the news, it just wouldn't sink in. A bit like when you wear a waterproof coat and watch the rain drops sit like little bubbles on top of the fabric.

Then two days later, it hit me with an intensity I wasn't prepared for. There was a tribute programme on the radio, and Purple Rain came on. As the guitar intro was playing I felt this immense growing sadness inside my chest and suddenly sobbed so hard that I found it difficult to breathe. It took me weeks, months even, before I could think of him again or listen to his music without crying uncontrollably. Same thing if someone would ask me about him. It was a long and slow recovery process, but I think I have come to terms with it now. But it still feels sad, very sad.

ufoclub said:

it affected my like my own limb was cut off

That's exactly how it felt to me too.

PeteSilas said:

MattyJam said:

I wasn't numb. I was stunned. It was as if he was in my DNA and had been ripped out of me. I have never once accepted his death as "just" an overdose. What hurts more now is the fact that he is consigned to history. Yes, he is featured in a credit card TV ad, but how many people know it is him? How many younger people even knew who he was? It is still very, very sad for me.