When did you discover Prince? Mmm hmm. Okay, now when did you realize he was a musical genius and fall in love with him? Whether it was in the early 80s when he still wore a big afro or after he changed his name to the unpronounceable symbol or after he stopped fooling with record companies and started releasing all of his new music online, the man’s music impacted all of our lives somehow. We all have a Prince memory.
As we miss The Purple One and remember him fondly, we over here at A Global Lifestyle thought we’d share a few of our own high-heeled, black-laced, ruffle-shirted memories of the man, his music, and the way he made us feel. Rest in peace, Prince. We’ll miss you forever.
Prince, Authenticity and That Night at The Forum
There’s a reason why Prince’s Purple Rain concert at LA’s The Forum was legendary. I was in college at the time and in my 20s. The Purple Rain album was like nothing any of us had ever heard. We were all listening, dancing and in total awe of this man–whom we all knew was already a legend.
When we turned on the AM radio, all we heard was his songs. Every cheerleader, dancer and performer at the time had their own particular choreography to a Prince song.
Beyond Prince’s music was his looks. We had never heard anything like his blend of rock, funk, R&B and just plain Prince-ness, but we had never seen anything like him either. Somehow, someway, Prince was a man of the 80s. He was a man OF his time. He fit right into the collective gender confusion and audacity of the fabulous ‘80s. He was also SEXY AF, right? How did this guy in this tiny package, with makeup and a gender- and racial-confusing look just be so beguiling with his round, doe eyes and long lashes rimmed with black eyeliner? He was mysterious and evocative, and we loved every second of it.
It was the wonder of Prince–a man who set us all alight that fantastic night at The Forum. I will never forget all the beautiful people I saw that night wearing almost nothing. Being more modest, I wore a long, white, tight skirt (think Marilyn) and a matching white lace bustier (it was really lingerie). I had on a purple jacket cuz I always get cold. And purple pantyhose. And white heels. That concert blew me AWAY and I’m not talking about the music–which was incredible–but the staging and his acrobatics. It was raw, pulsating, rhythmic, screeching, soothing, original, authentic, fashionable and SEXY.
I am grateful to Prince for his creativity, his authenticity, his musicianship, his inner fashionista and his music. I will dance to your songs until I meet you there on the other side, Purple One. It’s now time for #PurpleReign. #RIPPrince — Sheryll
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