AP Photo/Liu Heung Shing,
By Cheryl Mattox Berry
As I chatted with friends around the country about the death of music legend Prince, we shared what we liked about the artist. Here are the Top 10 things I loved about him:
- Originality. He was one of a kind, and so was his music, which was a mix of rock, funk, R&B and pop. I was always excited about a new Prince album because I knew it would be different from the last one. Some of his lyrics were explicit for the times but never nasty like some contemporary artists.
- Voice. Prince had a range that could go from deep and sexy to a spine-tingling falsetto, and boy could he scream a note.
- Hair. He rocked some bad hairstyles, including a curly shag, short and straight, and his recent big Afro. Women could relate to his changing locks.
- Clothes. Torso-baring. Frilly. Edgy. GQ. Over the top. Who could forget the chaps with the cutout butt cheeks.
- Accessories. Prince tied a bandana around his head for one performance and always sported high-heel boots. He also wore necklaces with symbols that apparently meant something to him. There were ear cuffs and numerous ear piercings.
- Business savvy. Prince was not only a songwriter, singer and multi-instrumentalist; he was a businessman ahead of his time. He believed that artists should own their music and decide when and how to release it. He showed us how to stand up for what we believed in.
- Socially conscious. He supported other artists, promoted women and helped those in need – without fanfare.
- Protected his privacy. I respected him for keeping his life private. I’m so sick of overexposed entertainers who say and do stupid things to keep their name in the media. When Prince granted an interview, he had something profound to say that helped his fans understand who he was and what he was about. Prince let his talent do the talking. Other artists need to take note and take a seat.
- Tours timed just right. Prince didn’t perform every year in the same cities. He stayed away long enough to make you crave him. When you heard Prince had scheduled a concert in your city, you had to see him because you didn’t know when that opportunity would come again.
- He was so cute with those big eyes – usually ringed in heavy eyeliner – and that naughty look.
One of Prince’s songs, Insatiable, is playing on the radio as I write this. It’s sad that his fans won’t hear any new music from him again unless there are unreleased songs in the vault. But his old music will live on and so will the memories of an artist who was unique and innovative.