What We Lost When We Lost Prince

Prince fucked with rock's formula more than any other artist.

Last year, Prince presented the award for Album of the Year at the Grammys. “Albums still matter,” he said. “Like books and black lives, albums still matter.”

That moment maybe sums up why Prince Rogers Nelson was so great, and why his death—which despite confirmation still seems unbelievable—is so devastating for so many people. With a few off-the-cuff words, the always unpredictable Prince outshined at least half of the artists who would take the stage that night, even without his guitar. With his guitar, he could pretty much blow them all away.

It’s hard to write about icons, especially those who have wielded so much influence over your life and tastes, whose music is threaded through so many of your cherished and formative memories. Prince was one of the very first musicians I ever loved, and however clumsy it comes out, it feels worth it to try to sum up what he meant to me, and millions of others.

Juneau, AK, The Long Winter

Friday, April 22, 2016