Prince – The death of an Icon
I still can’t believe I am writing this. In the year in which we said goodbye to David Bowie, we are now mourning the loss of Prince Rogers Nelson, known to all as Prince, a unique, beautiful, sensitive talent who was probably the greatest, most prolific songwriter of his generation. Prince was just 57, still performing, still writing and still the vibrant icon like no other. And now he is gone too, another casualty of the terrible year that 2016 is proving to be.
I will not lie and say I was the world’s biggest Prince fan, when I was growing up he was too dangerous and sexy for me, I was a Duran Duran fan, and loved Madonna, as well as my aforementioned Bowie, but it is one of those things where your appreciation grows as you do. ‘Purple Rain’ is epic, try listening to it without the hairs on your arms standing up on end at its sheer beauty. ‘Raspberry Beret’ is just exhilarating and life affirming, ‘1999’ a favourite even as a child, it was the only song to dance too on New Year’s Eve 1998, ‘Sign O the Times’ which my dearly departed, beloved nan loved too, ‘U got the Look’ – who knew Sheena Easton could be so cool, ‘Litte Red Corvette, another one that just soars and soars. Everyone a classic – do I really need to go on.
Prince was also a ground breaking style icon, especially in those 1980s days, a mixture of an 18th Century dandy and Jimi Hendrix, with feminine features that he was not afraid to enhance with make-up, jewellery and lashings of lace frills and collars. The Paisley wasn’t the sole reserve of his ‘park’ but covered his drainpipe trousers, as brocade and brooches made a comeback, worn by the coolest star around. He was a dandy, a blingy magpie who loved to shimmer and shine, he knew just what a star should look like, and never failed to deliver.
Heaven gained a new star yesterday, one that will shine bigger and brighter than most. Prince was a maverick who left the most amazing legacy of music. We won’t see his like again.
9 Comments
Tracey
I have tears in my eyes reading this. Last night I sat stunned as I heard Radio 1 announce his departing in an unscheduled bulletin. I braced myself when they said ‘breaking story’. You know it’s going to be bad but I never dreamt… Prince has had a massive influence on my life. I am shell-shocked. I’ve just written a short tribute to him on my blog. I felt I had to. The only comfort fans will take from his leaving us, is his incredible legacy of work which lives on for us all to enjoy and celebrate. As you so rightly say, Prince exuded sex appeal, and his sense of style and grace was as unique as it was inspiring. Everything he did was from the heart and now I have tears rolling down my face. Yours is a beautiful fitting tribute to a beautiful man who will be greatly missed by millions. Txxx
Stephanie Merry
I can’t believe he’s gone either. I grew up listening to his songs and still love them to this day. We’ve lost far too many amazing people this year already – just hope they’re having one hell of a party on the otherside x
Ana De- Jesus
I read the news with tears in my eyes, this man was the star of our music industry and now that star has been taken so so soon. I am dreading this year the more it goes on because so many icons like David Bowie and Alan Rickman have been taken and it saddens me.
Nayna Kanabar
You have written a beautiful tribute. A great loss to the music industry. May his soul rest in peace.
nicol
it was such a heartbreak coming home from work and hearing this. he was a style icon and always stuck to his true self
My Life As A Mummy
Such a fabulous tribute! Too many deaths this year for celebs!
I can’t say I was a huge Prince fan but I did love his song ‘When Doves Cry’
Laura x x x
Laura
I really cannot believe he is gone – what is happening to all these icons in 2016! Such a beautifully written tribute.
Laura x
Shannon Green
Such a nice tribute.
I am a little bit young to know all about prince but I do know a quite few of his songs; they were played throughout my childhood.
Mellissa Williams
He was part of my youth, I remember buying the album Purple Rain and watching the film over and over again. I was so sad when I heard of his death. He was a true genius x