Minnesota's Greatest Loss Of 2016 | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Minnesota's Greatest Loss Of 2016

RIP Prince.

14
Minnesota's Greatest Loss Of 2016

On April 21, 2016, the lives of Minnesotan's everywhere got turned upside down in the blink of an eye. First, news came out that a body was found dead on Prince's estate. I was still a senior in high school, and I was struggling to drag my way through an economics class. The headline did not specify whose body was found, but everyone had hope that there was no way it could be Prince himself.

I attended a performing arts high school, so the Minneapolis music scene was held especially close to our hearts. My class obviously went into a roar. We were all freaking out, and my teacher struggled to keep our attention on what was already a very dreary day. I remember saying to my class, "Don't worry, there's no way it is Prince who died, they would have specified that by now." Not even five minutes later a new headline came out saying "Prince found dead at Paisley Park."

His info on Wikipedia was already updated to include his date of death. We were absolutely stunned. Everything was somber. I swear you could feel it in the air. It even rained that day. Of course, school wasn't canceled or anything, but it may as well have been since none of our students or teachers could concentrate through our shock and mourning. All I could think about was his legacy and the great memories I'd had with his music. I remembered being 11 years old and dancing in the rain on a muddy baseball field while "Purple Rain" blasted on the speakers... in the middle of the night. It was something to do in a boring small town, and it was a few minutes of magic before we got kicked out.

For those of you who aren't from Minnesota or aren't familiar with Prince, he was revolutionary, to say the least. Prince was an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer from Minnesota. He was a musical innovator who was known for his large vocal range, genre-defying work, strong stage presence, extravagant appearance, and for his great musical impact on Minneapolis and the world.

After Prince's first performance of Purple Rain at First Avenue, he undoubtedly brought attention to the Minneapolis music scene. Some would even say he put the Twin cities on the map. The film "Purple Rain" told Prince's story and featured First Avenue as a primary setting.

I think Minnesotans feel a very special connection to Prince that others can't quite understand. He did so much for our communities. After his death, buildings all over Minneapolis lit up purple to commemorate him. His estate, Paisley Park in Chanhassen, was overflowing with fans. All his music was sold out at all the local record stores, luckily I had already bought his album "Purple Rain" on vinyl a couple years prior. First Avenue and 7th St. Entry held tributes for him for a week straight. I had just turned 18 a few days prior to his death, so a few of my friends and I headed downtown to try and attend an all night "Prince Dance Party" at First Ave. You couldn't look anywhere in Minneapolis without finding some sort of tribute to him; it was phenomenal. The line to First Ave wrapped around the corner and covered at least four blocks. Needless to say, after waiting for two hours in the cold, we never made it in.

Our greatest loss of 2016 was our Prince. A man who continuously committed random acts of kindness, even before his fame, and who was a big part of putting Minnesota on the grid musically. I'll never forget the day of his death and seeing the buildings light up purple in the rain.


Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Relationships

11 Things Summer Nannies Can Relate To

There are plenty of obstacles that come when taking care of kids, but it's a very rewarding experience.

47
11 Things Summer Nannies Can Relate To

As a college student, being a nanny over the summer is both enjoyable and challenging. Underneath the seemingly perfect trips to the pool or countless hours spent playing Monopoly are the obstacles that only nannies will understand. Trading in your valuable summer vacation in return for three months spent with a few children less than half your age may seem unappealing, but so many moments make it rewarding. For my fellow summer nannies out there, I know you can relate.

Keep Reading...Show less
girl

If it hurts now, it'll hurt again. Not because you're gullible or naive, only because you fall fast, hard, and you do it every time.

We fall each and every time with the complete and utter confidence that someone will be there to catch us. Now that person we SWORE we were never going to fall for has our hearts, and every time we see them our palms start sweating. The butterflies in our stomach start to soar and our hearts are entirely too close to bursting out of our chests.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

10 Things Only Equestrians Understand

Yes, it IS a sport. Yes, I fall all the time. No, I do not ride in jeans with a cowgirl hat on.

458
horses
Barn Pros

Growing up I have always wanted to own a horse. My grandparents own a well known equestrian facility in Georgia, so I have been riding since I was born. A bond between a person and their horse is a bond so strong that it cannot be broken. Everywhere I went I wanted to be around horses, even forcing my family to go on trail rides during vacations. Horses have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember has taught me great responsibility, as well as 14 things that all equestrians can relate to.

Keep Reading...Show less
man wearing white top using MacBook
Photo by Tim Gouw on Unsplash

College is super hard. Between working, studying, and having a social life, it feels like a struggle to just keep afloat.

I understand. When you feel like your drowning and there's no way to stay afloat I understand that it feels like everyone else is doing just fine. I understand all the frustration, long nights in the library, and that feeling that you want to just throw in the towel. I understand that sometimes it's too hard to get out of bed because your brain is already filled with too much information to remember. I understand because I am also feeling pretty burnt out.

Keep Reading...Show less
No Matter How Challenging School Gets, You Have To Put Your Health First — A Degree Won't Mean Anything If You're Dead
Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash

Some of the best advice I've ever received was from my social studies teacher in sophomore year of high school. He stated, "If you don't know it at midnight, you're not going to know it for the 8 a.m. exam, so get some sleep."

It's such a simple piece of advice, but it holds so much accuracy and it's something that the majority of college students need to hear and listen to. "All-nighters" are a commonality on college campuses in order to cram in studying for an exam that is typically the next day.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments