Prince Is Dead At 57, Everything Sucks

Prince found dead in his Minnesota home

Prince — singer, songwriter, producer, legend — is dead at 57. His body was discovered at his Paisley Park compound in Minnesota early this morning.

From NPR:

“Police who responded to reports of a death at Prince’s Paisley Park estate outside of Minneapolis found that the musician had died at age 57. The shocking news has been confirmed by Prince’s publicist; police say they’re still investigating his death.”

He had an amazing 39 albums under his belt. He was a singer and songwriter who played just about every instrument you could think of. He sold over 100 million records and is considered one of the best selling artists of all time.

In 1982, I bought my first record with my own money: it was Prince’s 1999. I was nine years old. My god, it was filthy. I had no idea what any of those lyrics meant at all — I just knew I loved to dance around the house to them. If my Greek immigrant mother would have known that song about the Corvette that I loved to sing all day was about a one night stand with a promiscuous woman — would she have reconsidered and taken the album away from me?

Probably not.

I think about that first record, and all the Prince music I happily recited throughout my childhood, now that I’m a parent to my own small children. They are 3 and 5 and they love having their own dance parties. Have I played Prince for them? Yup. And a bunch of other music that isn’t Kidz Bop.

Prince was an innovator. He didn’t take any shit. He changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol for years to end a stifling contract with Warner Brothers that was only valid for “Prince.” He was truly one of a kind. So yes, I let my kids dance around to Little Red Corvette. Knowing how my musical taste was shaped by growing up listening to such a talented musician constantly reminds me to expose my kids to the same.

When someone’s music takes you through most of your life… I don’t know. I feel like I’ve lost a confidant today. I assume many people feel the same.

Rest in peace, Prince. Thanks for all the music.

Dearly beloved

We are gathered here today To get through this thing called life

Electric word life

It means forever and that’s a mighty long time But I’m here to tell you There’s something else…