Prince, RIP: Open Thread

I swear this year is going to drop something really dreadful on us and this is just the beginning of it.

FUCK NO. FUCK NO. I am not believing this.

I know people die and I know we’re always hearing about this or that celeb passing away (sometimes salaciously) but not Prince! He ushered in my puberty, and that of all of my friends. He was genius, talent, and mystery. I have entire Prince playlists I don’t know if I can listen to for a while now.

How I was hoping this was a sick troll who’d hacked in here and faked this thread.

Can’t put into words.

Imaginary Petal: I’m in the same boat as you (though I do know at least a couple of his songs). I respected his skill and savvy, but he was never one of ‘my’ icons. To those who’ve lost a beloved artist, though, I extend my sympathies.

Prince was pivotal in American music. Played all his own instruments, wrote all his own songs. When he made it big, he remembered his roots and stayed in his hometown. He mentored many other artists, giving them a hand up.

Really a remarkable and amazing person. A groundbreaker. A cultural icon of a certain time and place.

The other night, my 14 year old decided to finally watch Tim Burton’s “Batman” and he loved it. We were talking about the soundtrack, which is primarily Danny Elfman (another genius in his own right, PAY HIM NO MIND, UNIVERSE!) and I mentioned that the song that was then playing was also by Prince. My son says, “Well, who doesn’t love Prince, right?”

Man, I am going to miss the Purple One.

I never heard a Prince song I didn’t like, and he had the most amazing style.

Rest in peace, Prince.

The other night, my 14 year old decided to finally watch Tim Burton’s “Batman” and he loved it. We were talking about the soundtrack, which is primarily Danny Elfman (another genius in his own right, PAY HIM NO MIND, UNIVERSE!) and I mentioned that the song that was then playing was also by Prince. My son says, “Well, who doesn’t love Prince, right?”

“Partyman” was actually the first ever Prince song I heard. He helped me get out country music and into stuff that was decent.

Ow. I’ve still left David Bowie mostly unmourned, since my father died the same day as him. But this one hurts. I’m still mostly convinced it’s not real.

I never saw him live, but I remember one super cool ‘fuck you’ he did. In 1984, the City Council tried to get his Purple Rain show cancelled because he was too obscene for children. It was unsuccessful, and the show was a huge success. But then, a couple of month’s later, he came BACK and performed another full show-on a Saturday afternoon.

A matinee, for the kids. That was hilarious then and it’s hilarious now. I wish I had been there.

Awful news, we’ve lost one of the true greats. Nothing compares 2 U, you purple genius.

Also, because there hasn’t been a chance to mention it in any other threads, RIP Victoria Wood. Hilarious, insightful and utterly impervious to fashion or zeitgeist.

For those with slightly more obscure musical fondnesses, Richard Lyons (the founder of Negativland) also died today at the age of 57.

WTF, 2016?

I’m only a year younger. I owned a copy of the 1989 Batman soundtrack. Loved Batdance. He was a great, innovative, all round musician, with the same sort of fixation for the Sixties, that I had.

I’d also like to mention the passing of another brilliant all rounder, Victoria Wood, far too young at 62. Stand up comic, musician, writer, playwright, actress and more. Without exaggeration, whatever she turned her hand to her work was of the very highest quality. Very British and she understood, like Thoreau, that most people live lives of quiet desperation. Only, Wood was funnier.

Some of Victoria Wood’s best bits. Not by any means all. Seek out some more of her work. It’s worth it.

Prince & Victoria Wood. The World seems a little bit emptier.

Well, shit.

What is it WITH 20freaking16? All the cool people are dying! I’m afraid we’ll be left with just Kardashians and and and…. can I go back to bed now?