Commentary

The Day The Music Died: R.I.P., Prince

Editor's Note: Due to a scheduling snafu last week, Cory Treffiletti's post on a timely, popular topic never officially blasted as a separate newsletter. We're blasting today so more folks have a chance to read Cory's tribute to The Purple One.

Those of you who truly know me know I am a music fan of the nth degree.  I was on a plane last week when I heard Prince had died, and it hit me like a ton of bricks.  I was in shock for a few hours, then I was sad. Then I realized the best way to memorialize a loss is to celebrate the source, and that’s what I’ve been doing all last week.

I first saw Prince in 1985 on the Purple Rain tour, at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.  I was a young kid, and my parents, who were also music people, thought we should go and see him.  

I was already a huge fan, and “Purple Rain” was the soundtrack to an important period of my adolescent life (not unlike how Pearl Jam has been the soundtrack to my “grown-up” years).   

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The show was incredible, even though I vaguely recall having my parents cover my eyes for some of it due to the inherent risqué that was Prince in concert.   

During the last few days I’ve been able to go back and revisit some of that exact concert, since snippets and songs have been posted online.

I next saw Prince in New York, 1988: the LoveSexy tour at Madison Square Garden.  I recently went and looked up the set list from that show to recall what was played and get the general vibe for that show.  It was also an incredible show, though not as much a “soundtrack” as Purple Rain.

It was however another example of an amazing performer who was at the height of his game.  Come to think of it, Prince was unique in that he was at the height of his game for almost 40 years.   Not many other artists can say that.

I once found myself standing next to Prince in a club in Las Vegas.  I caught myself looking over at him and staring because, even in such a strange place, he stood out.  It might have been his five-inch heels, or the seven-foot bodyguard standing next to him.  It felt tangible that I  was literally in the presence of rock royalty.

My wife and I went to see Prince in Oakland last year.  I had fallen somewhat out of touch with his music over the years as he went more underground, but the last couple of albums had some songs that stuck out to me, and I felt his return to shredding guitar was bringing me back in.  

Both my wife I had were mind-blown by the show.  Prince sang, danced, played and DJ’d his way through three hours and never really slowed down. This past weekend I looked at that set list and re-lived the show in my mind.

The losses of both Elvis and John Lennon were major news events.  When Jerry Garcia passed away, the Internet was just starting, and people got together in AOL chat rooms as a community to remember him.  When Michael Jackson passed away, most of the world wept, but most of the world also pitied the turns that Michael’s life had taken.  

Prince passing unexpectedly set the world on its head, with cities honoring him, impromptu parties in the streets to remember him, and artists memorializing him.  The Internet allowed the news to spread like wildfire and a sense of mourning engulfed almost every music fan in the world.  I would go out on a limb to say that Prince might have been the most universally respected artist the world has ever seen. You may have thought he was strange, and maybe a little controversial, but his genius was unquestionable.

You might ask why I am writing about Prince in a column dedicated to marketing and advertising and media.  My answer is simple: Prince was a medium all unto himself, and he will be missed.

R.I.P., Prince.

1 comment about "The Day The Music Died: R.I.P., Prince".
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  1. tobin Trevarthen from www.spatialshift.com, April 29, 2016 at 7:36 p.m.

    He defined "the medium is the message".

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