It was odd, two Prince songs in a row on a random radio station. I didn't know at the time. It didn't occur to me. I didn't think of the possibility. But later, well, I heard the news the same as anyone. We lost another. Two thousand sixteen saw the death of another artist.
And well, I wish I could say more about him. Others certainly have their memories, and they honor him. The Sugar Sand Festival at Clearwater Beach did a memorial carving. Saturday Night Live did an entire special.
But, I can't say much about him. I'm too young. He wasn't the icon of my childhood. I'm a Millennial, I didn't know Prince.
But I wish I had. In the same way you don't know enough about a relative until they're gone. And then find out you had been around someone greater than you imagined.
Without knowing it, Prince's songs touched my childhood, my sense of taste. The esthetics of his character, the way he marketed himself made impressions, as all the greats did.
I can remember the first time I was told about him. His high pitched, unique voice. I was so young. I didn't appreciate it enough. We lost Michael Jackson, we lost Prince. And I guess all I can do to redeem my ignorance of this man is to now remember him. And to write an article like this.
The man helped artists. The man was brave. The man was a legend.
Doves are crying now. And the older individuals around me mourn, and I learn, piece by piece, about this man. Reaching for parts of someone I don't know.