The death of Prince was shocking. Growing up in the 80s he was inescapable and while I was never a huge fan I liked some of his singles/songs- you couldn't not like at least some of them. I saw him play in Manchester two years ago, a friend had a spare and it seemed like a good opportunity to see a legend. Over the two hours he blew the audience at Manchester's indoor arena away, song after song after song. The thing that really struck me was the crowd. I'm used to going to gigs that are attended by roughly 60%-80% middle aged men, many either in leather jackets or cagoules depending on the band. Prince's audience ranged from younger teenagers to people in their 60s, racially mixed, glammed up twenty-something couples, gangs of forty-something women, obsessive men on their own, gay and straight- the most socially diverse gig crowd I've ever been a part of. I've since grown to love some of his songs that previously were just part of my musical wallpaper. The energy he put into the show, dancing, playing guitar, singing was immense- partly why it is so shocking that he's died less than two years later aged just 57.
I have always liked this one.
Alphabet Street
There is a Jesus And Mary Chain cover version of Alphabet Street which, trust me, you don't want to hear right now. It doesn't do anyone any favours.
If you were around in 1990 this Prince penned song was inescapable too.
Totally agree to your description of the gig. I saw the same crowd in his concert a few years ago. It is sad, that someone has to die to listen to his records again.
ReplyDeleteA monstrous talent taken far too soon.
ReplyDeleteTragic all round. What a great musician he was. A true legend. And a killer guitar player.
ReplyDeleteBono has been just on irish radio talking about when he met Prince he explained that Dublin was all about the people and the back alleys. He spouted from his own back passage.
The obvious question/hope about Bono next came to mind
Like you, I was never what you would call a fan, but loved quite a lot of his songs through the 80s and early 90s. A crazy motherfucker and one of the most immensely talented people to ever walk the earth.
ReplyDeleteCan we go back to December 31st 2015 and jump straight into 2017? I don't want 2016 to have ever happened.