Tribute to Prince
I want to thank you Prince for all you’ve done for me. I know everyone is writing about you, but I don’t feel like it makes my tribute any less important because you deserve all the tributes people write about you. You deserve to hear from each person you made cry or love with your lyrics, each person you made dance hearing your songs helping us delight in the beauty of life, each person honored to see you in concert. I wish we had all written to you a few days ago while you could have still read our thanks to you.
You made a monumental difference in my young life. I cried with your songs, I jammed with them, I agonized over teenage heartaches with you, I loved right along with you. You were right there with me every step of the way. You got me through so much hard life. You got me through my mother’s death, my teen insecurities, through my grandpa’s death, my grandma’s death. You didn’t know it, but you celebrated with me too. You were a shelter to heal my heart in solitude as I listened to your music alone in my room, an umbrella in my rain. Your songs are poetry without the instruments and with the instruments pure beauty, so either way your music is legendary. You inspired me to write poetry as teenager, poetry that helped me work through teenage depression, poetry that even though it was mostly bad, inspired in me a love of writing that I still have today. In this way, you have influenced my entire life.
I am overjoyed hearing the resurgence of your songs on the radio these past few days and I fall right back into those awesome feelings you painted for me with your amazing lyrics. I hope as a Minnesotan, our radio stations continue to play your music for years to come because I love to hear them and we should continue to celebrate you as fellow Minnesotans. I remember hearing a quote from you, something about how the Minnesota cold keeps people purer here and I love that. You were right, the cold and snow is pure even in our half despising of it, we still love it for its beauty. It keeps us honest in life.
My friends and I would listen to you for hours and hours, and I would listen alone for several more. Friends and I danced at your concerts, blessed to be near your genius.
I watch the rain fall today looking for the purple in it. I see images on the internet as people honor you bringing purple balloons, art work, and vibrant alive purple flowers to set outside your home. You taught us how Doves Cry. Listen to us as we mourn you, this is what it sounds like when we cry.
Forever your fan,
With love, Julie
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