Prince Rogers Nelson, known by his mononym Prince, died Thursday, April 21, 2016. The world was left stunned and grieving.
As it had with David Bowie, his death came as an unhinging shock. Prince transcended natural existence; he was a purple deity, a mythic being. You assumed, for this reason, that he would evade death. How could life's normal rules apply to him? And yet, even Prince was aware of his own mortality, singing in "1999" -- "We could all die any day / But before I'll let that happen / I'll dance my life away."
And dance, he did.
Prince was a man of many talents: prolific songwriter, multi-instrumentalist (he could play a total of 27), fashion icon, showman, sex symbol, definer of funk and R&B. He was a seven-time Grammy award winner with infectious hits like "Little Red Corvette," "When Doves Cry," "1999," "Kiss" and "Let's Go Crazy."
His 1984 smash-hit album "Purple Rain" is an undeniable cultural phenomena, and is considered by Rolling Stone to be the second best album of the 1980's.
Despite his success, Prince is still a figure shrouded in mysticism, one with a multitude of eccentricities: his allegiance to the color purple, policing of online music (you won't find any of his work on YouTube), trash-talking Michael Jackson's ping-pong skills and his penchant for speaking in riddles. And yet, Prince is revered as a legend -- with great reason.
Prince started powerful conversation about culture, music and sexuality. He unapologetically embraced his blackness and androgyny, becoming a beacon of hope for countless teenagers and young-adults. He proved (time and time again) that the most valuable thing a person can be is themselves.
He defied gender and genre. With tousled hair and a sly, flirtatious expression, his art was centered on pleasure and fun. He wore eyeliner and high-heels (perhaps compensating for his slight 5-foot-2 stature), and didn't give a damn about appearing tough or masculine. His stage prescience was eroticism with a synth accompaniment; he was freedom and funk. In a word, Prince was revolutionary, declaring, proudly, in "I Would Die 4 U" -- "I'm not a woman. I'm not a man. I'm something that you'll never understand."
Prince is a true artist.
The world lost a music icon, and is now void of a great deal of funk and rebellion. And although a life without Prince is still incomprehensible, we must carry on. Be bizarre; be you. Be bold and brash. Style your hair how you please. Dress how you want. Be passionate. Be weird. Wear purple.
It's what Prince would have wanted.
