Because it is not what I am discussing in today’s
main topic, I am compelled to make a few passing observations regarding a
discussion I’ve been knee-deep in for months.
Herewith: Yesterday there were five Republican Primaries (Pennsylvania,
Maryland, Connecticut, Delaware, and Rhode Island). This latest version of Super Tuesday included
the first Primaries since the vaunted Cruz-Kasich Collaboration, the virtual
personification of the “Never Trump” Movement.
To keep this brief, I’ll get directly to the point. There were 5 Primaries up for grabs. The Score: Trump 5 – 0 over the Cruz Kasich
Collaborative.
Now the Keep Hope Alive contingent, which is
about all the Never Trump Movement amounts to at this point, will argue that
the outcome, based upon the geography and demographics of those Northeast
corridor states, was baked in the cake, as it were. Perhaps, but Trump did not just win those
five contests. To use parlance I’ve
heard after more than a few sports contest routs, he beat the brakes off those
bums. Based on at least one network’s
analysis, Mr. Trump has positioned himself to secure what Ted Cruz and John
Kasich maintain he could never achieve; a path to 1237 delegates (better known
as victory in the quest for the Republican Nomination).
The pundits continue to haggle over the details
associated with the GOP process. Weeks
ago I observed that the factor not enough credence is given to is the deepest
desires of GOP voters. That Trump can’t
bridge the 40% barrier thesis should effectively be put to rest after last
night. He claimed clear majorities in
each of the 5 contests, more than 60% in most.
Oh well. Get that next argument
ready folks…and a new scheme would also help.
Now on to today’s regular programming. April 21, 2016, a day that will live in
infamy, at least in the hearts and minds of fans of Prince Rogers Nelson. Almost certainly, Purple Rain fell as Doves
Cried. On that day, 57-year old Prince
Rogers Nelson (Jun 7, 1958 – April 21, 2016) departed this earthly realm.
In retrospect, it’s fair to say Prince was an
acquired taste. However, regardless of
whether you knew him as Prince Rogers Nelson, or as Prince, or as The Artist,
or as The Artist Formerly Known As Prince, or as that really short dude who sang,
danced, played multiple instruments, and replaced James Brown as The Hardest
Working Man in Show Business, you knew him…and you knew when you saw him
perform, you had seen an immeasurably talented artist with more juice than the Energizer
Bunny. His on stage persona was, without
question, unique and unparalleled. He
was a synchronized syncopated, “Delirious” musician. As the greats typically do, he demanded
performance excellence of himself, and his ensemble, and it showed, each and
every time he hit a stage. He exuded a
level of command presence that few others in any entertainment genre manage to
capture and display.
Last Thursday, as I contemplated the depth and
breadth of the moment, it occurred to me that on July 1, 2009, I had memorialized
Michael Jackson: "The King of Pop: Gone Too
Soon." In fact, even more recently, on February 15,
2012, I similarly venerated Whitney Houston: “Last Saturday The Music Died: Déjà
vu All Over Again!” (http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/2012/02/last-saturday-music-died-deja-vu-all.html) For me, without delving into the maudlin, Prince’s
untimely demise ensured that I must at least add a discussion of his life and
his sublime body of work to the honorifics of Michael and Whitney to form a tri-part
montage in memory of the dearly departed.
In
noting the obvious, Prince was a highly decorated, frequently honored
artist. He sold over 100 million records.
He was clearly among the best-selling
artists of all time. He won seven
Grammy Awards (30
nominations), and a Golden Globe
Award. He won an Academy Award for the film
Purple Rain. He had 5 Chart topping singles and 14 other
songs in the Top 10. In 2004, he was
inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during his first year of eligibility. He was ranked number 27 on the Rolling Stone list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
Prince was a gifted marketer. He understood that to be the Master of his
Fate, he needed to guard his image, protect his brand, and control his
music. He worked diligently at all
three, endeavors, but his efforts at the latter were groundbreaking. He engaged Warner Brothers in a multi-year
wrestling match to regain ownership of his Music Library. In matching wits with the company, he
terminated his contract and changed his name.
At times he was called the Unpronounceable Symbol…though he actually
gave it a name, the love Symbol #2. He
also dubbed himself The Artist, and The Artist Formerly Known as Prince. All the while, he continued creating music at
a frenetic pace, in part to hasten the day when he could secure the rights to
his entire musical inventory, which he ultimately did.
He granted very few interviews. He admitted to being shy, but as shy as he
may have been he was also shrewd. The
lack of access created a level of mystery, which in turn fostered a heightened
degree of continued interest.
Ultimately, in the steroidal social media age, almost anything is
knowable…if your interest and commitment levels are keen enough. Yet, Prince still flew below the radar on
many levels because it was so much easier to find intel about other people.
Even in death, the mystery lingers. For example, many folks did not know Prince
had been married. He had, twice. His first wife, Mayte Garcia Nelson, bore him
a son, Boy Gregory. However, the child
was born with Pfeiffer Syndrome (a rare genetic disorder), and lived only a few
days. Between Mayte, and his second
wife, Manuela Testolini Nelson, he spent ten years, four and six to each,
respectively, as a married man.
Even his name is a source of confusion. Many folks believe Prince was a stage name;
it was not. His father audaciously named
him that in 1958. That also speaks to
why he wanted not only his music, but also his name back. Speaking of his parentage, it is commonly
assumed that Prince was bi-racial. He
was not. Both his parents, John Lewis
Nelson, and Mattie Della Baker Nelson were African American, hailing from
Louisiana, and transplanted to Minneapolis, Minnesota. One more thing; Prince often alluded to the
spiritual. But that did not mean he was
not religious; he was. Prince was a
Jehovah’s Witness.
In the arena of the known, based on his
discography, we can safely say Prince released:
·
39 Studio Albums
·
4 Live Albums
·
6 Compilation Albums
·
17 Video Albums
·
136 Music Videos
·
13 Extended Plays
·
104 Singles
·
1 Remix Album
That’s 320 unique projects spanning from his
first project, For You in 1978 to his last, HITnRUN Phase Two in 2015. It does not include the many hits he wrote
for others, such as Chaka Khan’s “I Feel For You.” Love him or hate him, he was one creatively
prolific bad dude. Prince Rogers Nelson
died as mysteriously as he lived. He was
alone as his Paisley Park studio and
home in Chanhassen,
Minnesota, when he was found dead in the elevator last Thursday. At that moment I know for sure…"There Was Purple Rain: And Doves Cried!"
I’m done; holla back!
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