Prince. The name conjures up a lot of memories for those who were born and grew up in the ’80s. Whether you know him directly by being a fan or indirectly by reading about his death, Prince is a music icon whose memory will never be forgotten.
At age 57, Prince joined a long list of legends who have recently passed, but Prince wasn’t just your typical musician. The man changed the face of music as we knew it.
He was able to blend funk, rock, new wave, R&B and pop into a style no one else has ever done before. He championed the “Minneapolis Sound,” which defined pop music for the better part of the 1980s. He constantly experimented with different sounds, which made it possible for him to release 39 albums, as well as have 25-30 still unreleased.
Despite many of these albums not getting much press, he still enjoyed releasing them to millions upon millions of die-hard fans.
In addition to his music, Prince broke boundaries in terms of clothing styles, an action that would eventually inspire hundreds of people to experiment in the same way. His wardrobe was made up of colorful outfits, stripes, sequins and so much more. Although his style choices were unorthodox for his time, it made very little difference.
His style choices and unique sound were featured at the Super Bowl XLI halftime show in 2007. This was, in my opinion, one of the best live performances I have ever seen. There is nothing that speaks to the soul better than watching Prince perform “Purple Rain” while fans stood loyal in the rain.
The tributes I’ve seen, whether in Minneapolis or on social media, have been astonishing. When David Bowie passed away earlier this year, I didn’t see as many memorials for him. But here’s an interesting part: Both Bowie and Prince had a feeling their lives were going to come to an end fairly soon. Bowie released his 25th album two days before he died, while Prince was preparing to write a memoir.
While many of the greats have passed away, Prince’s legacy will truly live on forever. He has joined many greats, such as Jimi Hendrix, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Buddy Holly, in that musical paradise. The clouds will definitely be rocking.
Alex Jirgens, junior in mass communications and geography
