Prince: A Look at a Life Through Music

Through his purple eyes, he saw the world. One with wonders of sex, spiritual awakening, expert musicianship of several instruments, and a voice that could coo, use bass, demonstrate falsetto and even shriek.

Just listening to "Controversy" (the single) or “Diamonds and Pearls” (again, the single) or “Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?” the flow of his voice and the playful, charged, sincere, and erotic sensibility that fit into his five foot two inch frame is something marvel at truly.

His ability far outweighed the drama behind the music. He married and tried to have a child that was stricken dead with Pfeiffers syndrome. He clashed with his record company and even inscribed slave on his face. He noticed that a certain other artist received more shine than him and he was playing all those instruments and dancing and touring and building a cache of records. To be heard or not, he created a vault like he knew his recordings would be as precious as diamonds and pearls.

Though he didn’t always wear purple, it was his signature color. It meant the clashing of a red army and a blue army in heaven leading to “Purple Rain.”

What still is curious is why most classic rock stations don’t play his music even though the vast majority of it could be classified as rock & roll. Again, those purple eyes would just roll and he would continue to create timeless tunes.

From the time he had a perm to his moments with blowout Afros, he redefined himself just through his hair. He could do splits in garb that looked like it came from the eighteenth century…in heels no less. The man exuded creativity and a sense of wonder with words that seemed to rise in fall in every breath.

Completely self-aware, he knew that he was a threat on the basketball court and could dish out grapes and pancakes to the losing team.

Of course this is an allusion to the landmark sketch from the Chappelle Show. While Dave Chappelle gave Prince agency as the Purple Wonder, he made a song with Chappelle on the cover in a brilliant move.

But that was Prince. Ever the devilish, clever angel of melodic mercy, he transcended gospel, blues, jazz, rhythm and blues, funk, soul, rock, and even rap. Whatever struck him as innovative or inventive he channeled it into his music.

Like the black muse in his song, it bestowed on him the benefits of making songs. He had been able to send positive vibes into the world. His power in selecting how he would use the muse lay in his expert precision in crafting the many sounds that floated through his brain like a boat setting sail for the horizon. His brilliance afforded him the ability to stitch words together with instrumentation.

As a man, he stood on principle and guided himself through the minefield of foul business deals. He propelled forward under the wings of thought and emotion. That passion that he exhibited had been within him and he shared a plethora of stylings with the world that could have easily kept himself in his vault. There might be over a thousand unreleased material that may or may not see the light of day. It all depends on the late artist’s estate.

Regardless, 45% of the material has been cleared and digitized. This is a welcoming idea for any Prince heads out there. The very instant that these songs drop, percentages of users listening to the pieces sky rocket. Prince wanted to be recognized and praised and acknowledged for his many efforts to bring his musical prowess to the forefront. His mastery over his craft ought to give anyone developing their own talents to take note and become the increased self. That spectacular overachieving sense that should come with any human being. To not set the bar low but reach for the upper atmosphere and beyond is the objective.

In all of his glory, he was still that shy kid from Minnesota. He made himself into a one man band and invited friends along the way and helped foster other bands. This superman was of course mortal. But he didn’t let the elevator bring him down any way.

Instead, he projected excellence and made it clear he could take on the planet with a guitar. Now, there had been, again, pianos, synthesizers, drums, bass guitar, and even a tambourine. All of which represented the genius behind each thump going out into the universe. As the strings vibrated so did the minds of the populace who supped from the cup of Prince’s overwhelming spirit.

His soul can be found in each track as he switched chords and backbeats. He could be the Friday and Saturday night pastor and the Sunday morning player, he switched the roles up totally. Sex and death played right up beside each other. The carnal and the irreversible coexisted in a Prince song. As if he could conduct the angels to mingle with the imps of hell, he made them all believe in the higher power that is great music.

In the decade since his death, his power has only grown. tributes all over the web have recognized him since he drew his last breath. He could handle commercial success in life but of course when an artist dies, even more attention and scrutiny is applied to the late artist. For him to be a legend, which he is, he would have to sustain the fame long after the Grim Reaper snatched him from this Earth. What we need to consider is the fact Prince produced so much quality work that it spilled out into the globe and beyond. (Remember it’s possible to play Prince on the International Space Station.) If we take into account the gargantuan talent that he showed, it allowed someone like me with bipolar I to experience his songs in spirit and in truth.

I think the first song I ever heard from him was “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World.” That was some time when I was about five years old. At 10 years old, I watched the ball drop and every party like it was “1999.” Such moments mark milestones in my life like when I heard “Baltimore,” a gorgeous elegy to the fallen. But my favorite Prince song must be “Starfish and Coffee.” It continues to remind me of my time in kindergarten with a young female who clearly had verbal autism. This struck me as I learned of the meaning behind this thoroughly engrossing little ditty.

But that’s what Prince’s music does. It can be rebellious, naughty, coy, intellectual, and sumptuous in just a few bars or lines. That will forever be his legacy even if he’s no longer around to open those purple eyes.