NY Times article featuring interviews with performers who were on stage with Prince when he played his now-legendary guitar solo in the George Harrison tribute.
NY Times article featuring interviews with performers who were on stage with Prince when he played his now-legendary guitar solo in the George Harrison tribute.
Just heard about this on FB, haven't had a chance to listen to it yet, but thought I'd post up for all y'all.
EDIT: It's so subtle you almost miss it (if not for the purple lighting)...only the instrumental at the end of Purple Rain, not any of the words. But still—that is a very Gilmour way to do it.
He was - and still is - respected and admired throughout his career. When I bought my vinyl copy of "1999" decades ago, all the news was about how he wrote, performed, and produced his own material. That + his incredible talent = mind blown.
I think it's documented that he was legitimately in chronic pain for some time, maybe even after hip surgery a couple of years ago. But those are the people most likely to develop an addiction to opioids. I'm sure there was some element of "rock & roll lifestyle" too, but he was also known for living and eating really clean... I just don't really buy the idea that there's much to condemn. Except for the part about not having a will.
Just heard about this on FB, haven't had a chance to listen to it yet, but thought I'd post up for all y'all.
EDIT: It's so subtle you almost miss it (if not for the purple lighting)...only the instrumental at the end of Purple Rain, not any of the words. But still—that is a very Gilmour way to do it.
Funny how I never really gave Prince much thought over the years, of course I have always recognized his prodigious talent particularly as a rock guitarist extraordinaire something he never got enough credit for, but he was just never a favorite artist of mine so he was very seldom in the forefront of my mind. Anyway, here are some of my favorite Prince tunes excluding any songs from Purple Rain because really that whole album is a treasure:
The bass line in this one!
And finally this underrated little ditty I have always loved:
Yeah, I hadn't listened to Prince in years. I had three of his great albums on vinyl "back in the day" - Dirty Mind, 1999 and Purple Rain - which I no longer own (sold almost all my records a few years ago). Now I'm thinking about buying those Prince albums on CD, as well as Sign o' the Times, which I for some reason wasn't motivated to buy back then, despite hearing good things about it (I recall it being picked as the #1 album on the Village Voice's annual critic's poll).
On another note, it made me sad yesterday when I heard on NPR that he apparently didn't leave a will. The poor guy was focused solely on his music, not mundane day-to-day matters, business, or even his health.
Funny how I never really gave Prince much thought over the years, of course I have always recognized his prodigious talent particularly as a rock guitarist extraordinaire something he never got enough credit for, but he was just never a favorite artist of mine so he was very seldom in the forefront of my mind. Anyway, here are some of my favorite Prince tunes excluding any songs from Purple Rain because really that whole album is a treasure:
The bass line in this one!
And finally this underrated little ditty I have always loved:
I drove into Minneapolis Saturday night from the west which is slightly higher ground. Looking “down” into Minneapolis, seemingly every building that had the ability was lit in purple. Some couldn’t and did blue instead. The interstate 35 bridge that fell down some years back was in bathed in purple. Target Field. It was very, very touching.
The Eiffel Tower was in purple one night. Buildings in Montreal, LA, NOLA, Times Square, were lit purple. Many more I can’t recall, or don't know.
Bruce Springsteen and James Taylor (among many others) both opened recent concerts with Purple Rain.
Prince was the famous, accomplished Minnesotan who didn’t leave. He was frequently seen around town. He was one of us and we loved him.
Location: Half inch above the K/T boundary Gender:
Posted:
Apr 25, 2016 - 4:28pm
I drove into Minneapolis Saturday night from the west which is slightly higher ground. Looking “down” into Minneapolis, seemingly every building that had the ability was lit in purple. Some couldn’t and did blue instead. The interstate 35 bridge that fell down some years back was in bathed in purple. Target Field. It was very, very touching.
The Eiffel Tower was in purple one night. Buildings in Montreal, LA, NOLA, Times Square, were lit purple. Many more I can’t recall, or don't know.
Bruce Springsteen and James Taylor (among many others) both opened recent concerts with Purple Rain.
Prince was the famous, accomplished Minnesotan who didn’t leave. He was frequently seen around town. He was one of us and we loved him.
But the whole "How did he even pull that off"-ness of Purple Rain puts it in a different ballpark, IMO. Album, Film, Star in Own Film, Produce Film in Non-Film City, etc. Everything about it makes me go wow. And how he got the label/studio to go along with it? He'd had Top 10 success but wasn't in a position to call his own shots. Except he always did.
It's a great business achievement given the constraints that the industry likes to set. However, it ultimately says little about the fruit itself.
Having all the control and being very prolific also meant that despite the gems that he created (and people tend to differ on which qualify) there was also plenty of filler on most of his albums.
"When death comes too early, chaos reigns in its wake. During times like these we must rise above the dusk and sorrow and seek a higher plane where peace, love, joy and celebration overcomes the emptiness, and shines a light upon the darkness.
With the passing of Prince, my friend, my knight, and my everlasting ally, I, along with millions of you, search for words and ways to make sense of the senselessness that this reality presents to us. How do we mourn? How do we express? How do we accept such a deep loss to our musical past, present, and future? As we will someday begin the process of acceptance and overcome the fear of letting go, what can we take with us to remind us of the light that shine so bright among us?
Gratefully, this path has already been blazed for us, in Platinum and Gold no less. It is a path that is broad and welcoming. It is a path that transcends race, politics, age, orientation, gender, genre and other limitations that we place on our thinking and ourselves. It is a path of joy, and sorrow, Diamonds and Pearls. It touches upon every emotion we are blessed to Experience. It is a path of melody and mirth. Of angst and anger. Of conflict and resolution, sometimes through a call of Revolution.
It’s not my effort to be clever, or even creative, in the above paragraph. It is only meant to share my sorrow, and my solace, in the music which we all love, and loved Prince for creating. Through his music, we were able to express what seemed impossible to say. Through his creativity, we were able to imagine and dream the incredible, to create a new reality. Through his hard work and determination, we were able to believe in the ability to overcome those obstacle set before us.
Prince was a Visionary. A Dreamer and a Believer. But most of all, he believed in those whom his music touched. To watch him perform was, as he encouraged, “To see the dawn.” There was a new-ness, a freshness, a coolness that seemed to exude from his every pore. I’ve been asked, “What was it like to create and perform music with Prince? ” My rebuttal was usually a tongue in cheek, “Ask him what it was like to create and perform with me.” It’s an answer that he would understand because it comes from the boldness that he played a part of instilling in me. I will share with you now, that the truth is, I never knew what it was like, creating with Prince.
In truth, each time was different, constantly evolving. To describe one experience as an example of them all, would only serve to reduce the significance of the others. And as Prince would say, “That ain’t cool.” And that is the essence of Prince and the legacy of the music he leaves for us to enjoy. His music is different, each time, in the most magical of ways. I close wishing each of you Peace, Love, and Joy in your celebration of Prince’s life. Through his music he achieved the eternal. Through your love and support of him; past, present and future, he will remain our Prince. May your heart shine shades of Purple, 4ever. I know mine will. Love, Sheila E."
"When death comes too early, chaos reigns in its wake. During times like these we must rise above the dusk and sorrow and seek a higher plane where peace, love, joy and celebration overcomes the emptiness, and shines a light upon the darkness.
With the passing of Prince, my friend, my knight, and my everlasting ally, I, along with millions of you, search for words and ways to make sense of the senselessness that this reality presents to us. How do we mourn? How do we express? How do we accept such a deep loss to our musical past, present, and future? As we will someday begin the process of acceptance and overcome the fear of letting go, what can we take with us to remind us of the light that shine so bright among us?
Gratefully, this path has already been blazed for us, in Platinum and Gold no less. It is a path that is broad and welcoming. It is a path that transcends race, politics, age, orientation, gender, genre and other limitations that we place on our thinking and ourselves. It is a path of joy, and sorrow, Diamonds and Pearls. It touches upon every emotion we are blessed to Experience. It is a path of melody and mirth. Of angst and anger. Of conflict and resolution, sometimes through a call of Revolution.
It’s not my effort to be clever, or even creative, in the above paragraph. It is only meant to share my sorrow, and my solace, in the music which we all love, and loved Prince for creating. Through his music, we were able to express what seemed impossible to say. Through his creativity, we were able to imagine and dream the incredible, to create a new reality. Through his hard work and determination, we were able to believe in the ability to overcome those obstacle set before us.
Prince was a Visionary. A Dreamer and a Believer. But most of all, he believed in those whom his music touched. To watch him perform was, as he encouraged, “To see the dawn.” There was a new-ness, a freshness, a coolness that seemed to exude from his every pore. I’ve been asked, “What was it like to create and perform music with Prince? ” My rebuttal was usually a tongue in cheek, “Ask him what it was like to create and perform with me.” It’s an answer that he would understand because it comes from the boldness that he played a part of instilling in me. I will share with you now, that the truth is, I never knew what it was like, creating with Prince.
In truth, each time was different, constantly evolving. To describe one experience as an example of them all, would only serve to reduce the significance of the others. And as Prince would say, “That ain’t cool.” And that is the essence of Prince and the legacy of the music he leaves for us to enjoy. His music is different, each time, in the most magical of ways. I close wishing each of you Peace, Love, and Joy in your celebration of Prince’s life. Through his music he achieved the eternal. Through your love and support of him; past, present and future, he will remain our Prince. May your heart shine shades of Purple, 4ever. I know mine will. Love, Sheila E."
But the whole "How did he even pull that off"-ness of Purple Rain puts it in a different ballpark, IMO. Album, Film, Star in Own Film, Produce Film in Non-Film City, etc. Everything about it makes me go wow. And how he got the label/studio to go along with it? He'd had Top 10 success but wasn't in a position to call his own shots. Except he always did.
That and it seemed like this was one of those rare efforts where all of the stars and planets aligned just right along with timing; just seemed like very song was perfect and that only happened about once every decade or so if that. I can see if you were a serious Prince fan and liked all of his work, there may be better personifications of his essence, but I am not a serious Prince fan and Purple Rain is just a special album regardless imo, you might say it transcends mere music which only occasionally happens.
It's not my fave, and I have dozens of Prince albums. I usually recommend Sign O the Times. Really a piece of genius, although it would've been better as a single album. (Same is true of Emancipation and some of his other multi-album sets.)
But the whole "How did he even pull that off"-ness of Purple Rain puts it in a different ballpark, IMO. Album, Film, Star in Own Film, Produce Film in Non-Film City, etc. Everything about it makes me go wow. And how he got the label/studio to go along with it? He'd had Top 10 success but wasn't in a position to call his own shots. Except he always did.
I know the great unwashed thinks so as well, but that doesn't always make it wrong. Purple Rain is a masterpiece of an album on par with Dark Side of the Moon, Rumors, Saturday Night Fever, Pet Sounds etc. in the pantheon of iconic albums.
When I heard and saw what that man had done,I knew despite my childish dreams and desires I had no future as a musician,I'd always be to humbled to accomplish anything of merit.
