Sorry Prince, There Will Not Be World Peace
Prince Rogers Nelson was an American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer and film-maker. He simply was an icon. Some say he wrote the soundtrack of a generation.
It was a sad day for us all when he left us in April, 2016. His talent was such that it could never be truly defined.
If you can hear 1999 and not get on the dance floor, there is something wrong with you. Purple Rain made him an icon. Little Red Corvette, Raspberry Beret, When Doves Cry were just a few of his hits. As a performer, he described himself as sitting on a ledge trying to keep pushing himself closer and closer to the edge. He was modest and that wasn't an act. That was him. Dick Clark asked him if he played all the instruments on his album. Maybe was the answer that shy Prince gave him.
But, Prince may be best known for what he gave to others. Nothing Compares 2 U was written by him. Manic Monday. Performed by the Bangles but written by Prince. U Can't Touch This. A career maker for MC Hammer written by Prince. Chaka Chan's hit I Feel For You written by Prince. The Glamorous Life co-written by Prince. (I'm guessing he wrote more than Sheila E.) Legend has it that Stevie Nicks was inspired to write Stand Back based on one of Prince's melodies and told him that she was going to give him 50% of the royalties on the song. Apparently, he showed up in her recording studio and said, if I am going to get 50% of the royalties, I want to earn it.
His loved Minneapolis and he never left the city. When other music royalty was living in LA, he made his own recording studio in Minneapolis. He supported the city quietly and didn't ask for a lot of recognition for the good deeds he did for the city,
I didn't know this about Prince until his death but he was a Witness for the Jehovah. As such, he did spread the word. Can you imagine opening the door to Prince asking you if you have heard the Good News?
Also, Prince had a social justice website !!
Prince was a deep thinker and an artist. He gave the world so much.
Then, there was the Black Album. The album was not titled and just released with a black sleeve. It was apparently Prince's response to criticism that he had become "too pop" and he was trying to showcase his Black American roots. However, for whatever reason, Prince had a spiritual awakening and felt the album was evil. He withdrew the album before it was released. He begged people not to listen to it if there were any copies out there. In 2017, 5 copies were discovered in the US, with one selling for $42, 298 US. This week, another copy of the original album was found in Canada. Undoubtedly, it will also be used to make money.
However, I almost fell off my chair. Prefacing with the fact that Prince did not want anyone to listen to this album, CBC News Network played about 30 seconds of a track.
I felt this was deeply disrespectful. The man gave so much of himself to the world. He freely shared his talents. He left the world a better place. The one thing he asked was for us not to listen to this album.
I think we could have honoured this. It is called respect. If we can't even respect someone's greatest wish, then, I am sorry, we will never have world peace. He gave his heart and soul to his music and we have to exploit him after his death.
CBC News Network, I thought you had better ethics and journalistic integrity. So much for social justice.
It was a sad day for us all when he left us in April, 2016. His talent was such that it could never be truly defined.
If you can hear 1999 and not get on the dance floor, there is something wrong with you. Purple Rain made him an icon. Little Red Corvette, Raspberry Beret, When Doves Cry were just a few of his hits. As a performer, he described himself as sitting on a ledge trying to keep pushing himself closer and closer to the edge. He was modest and that wasn't an act. That was him. Dick Clark asked him if he played all the instruments on his album. Maybe was the answer that shy Prince gave him.
But, Prince may be best known for what he gave to others. Nothing Compares 2 U was written by him. Manic Monday. Performed by the Bangles but written by Prince. U Can't Touch This. A career maker for MC Hammer written by Prince. Chaka Chan's hit I Feel For You written by Prince. The Glamorous Life co-written by Prince. (I'm guessing he wrote more than Sheila E.) Legend has it that Stevie Nicks was inspired to write Stand Back based on one of Prince's melodies and told him that she was going to give him 50% of the royalties on the song. Apparently, he showed up in her recording studio and said, if I am going to get 50% of the royalties, I want to earn it.
His loved Minneapolis and he never left the city. When other music royalty was living in LA, he made his own recording studio in Minneapolis. He supported the city quietly and didn't ask for a lot of recognition for the good deeds he did for the city,
I didn't know this about Prince until his death but he was a Witness for the Jehovah. As such, he did spread the word. Can you imagine opening the door to Prince asking you if you have heard the Good News?
Also, Prince had a social justice website !!
Prince was a deep thinker and an artist. He gave the world so much.
Then, there was the Black Album. The album was not titled and just released with a black sleeve. It was apparently Prince's response to criticism that he had become "too pop" and he was trying to showcase his Black American roots. However, for whatever reason, Prince had a spiritual awakening and felt the album was evil. He withdrew the album before it was released. He begged people not to listen to it if there were any copies out there. In 2017, 5 copies were discovered in the US, with one selling for $42, 298 US. This week, another copy of the original album was found in Canada. Undoubtedly, it will also be used to make money.
However, I almost fell off my chair. Prefacing with the fact that Prince did not want anyone to listen to this album, CBC News Network played about 30 seconds of a track.
I felt this was deeply disrespectful. The man gave so much of himself to the world. He freely shared his talents. He left the world a better place. The one thing he asked was for us not to listen to this album.
I think we could have honoured this. It is called respect. If we can't even respect someone's greatest wish, then, I am sorry, we will never have world peace. He gave his heart and soul to his music and we have to exploit him after his death.
CBC News Network, I thought you had better ethics and journalistic integrity. So much for social justice.
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