Homo Erectus: Purple Reign- The Top 5 Things I’ve Learned from Prince

Homo Erectus: Purple Reign- The Top 5 Things I’ve Learned from Prince
Steve Yacovelli
Steve Yacovelli

I have to admit something: I didn’t think of myself as the biggest Prince fan.

Sure, I liked a lot of the songs by Prince Rogers Nelson. “Little Red Corvette”was a snappy tune, I wondered what the future would be like while jammin’ to “1999,” and yes, my fraternity brothers and I danced along to“Batdance” back in the day. But as I reflect on the legacy that Prince left and read some of the articles and blogs that appeared after his death, I realized that this artist impacted my life in ways I didn’t expect. Here are the top five things The-Artist-Formerly-Known-and-Then-Re-known-as-Prince taught me about life.

Early Prince songs helped define my developmental years, and one memory in particular is forever locked with“Purple Rain.” I recall one summer day when that video was on high rotation on MTV. I was hanging out with my friend, and he and I would watch MTV in his basement because it was too hot out and neither one of our houses had air conditioning. It was in the cool basement when youthful curiosity and experimentation happened, and it was to the tune of “Purple Rain” that we, ahem, got to know one another a little bit better.

“I never wanted to be your weekend lover/I only wanted to be some kind of friend.”

MY TAKEAWAY: Hearing Purple Rain was one of those times when I realized that a specific moment in my life will forever be tied to a song, and whenever I hear it I’m instantly transported back to that cool basement and that nervous, anxious, excited feeling of discovery and awakening.

In 1993 Prince changed his name to a symbol. At first I thought he was doing it for a promotional gimmick or just to be “artsy.” But upon learning about the reason why – as a snub to his at-the-timerecord label andfrustrated over their lack of releasing his vast library of material – I realized it was a defiant move of protest and independence.

This symbol – later dubbed “The Love Symbol” – was a combination of male and female.That seemed fitting for someone who embraced androgyny, flamboyance, and his duality as an artist. He defied labels, much like he defied a traditional name.

MY TAKEAWAY: Don’t let others define you. When in doubt, make your own definition of who you are and what you stand for (even if it’s a symbol no one can pronounce). Be original, and stick to your convictions even when challenged.

“Manic Monday,”“Sugar Walls,” “Stand Back”: These were a few of the songs penned by Prince yet made famous by others. But it was when I realized Prince wrote “Nothing Compares 2 U”that it redefined how I looked at him as an artist. I knew he was a singer/songwriter, but it wasn’t’ until years later that I understood his impact on not just the lyrics and music for others, but his whole approach to being a “musical magpie” and taking pieces of many genres and creating an original sound that influenced countless musicians and helped give them a voice.

MY TAKEAWAY: Don’t assume because you know what someone can or cannot do that that’s the breadth of their strength and talent. You don’t always know the support or tools someone gives others to make them successful. Try not only to make your own success, but find ways to support the success of others.

I didn’t realize until after his death what a generous, compassionate giver Prince was.

But what’s most striking is that Prince didn’t focus on causes that supported one political ideology or another. Van Jones, who worked closely with Prince on his green-job-creating initiative “Green for All,” was quoted in the April 25, 2016 edition of Rolling Stonesaying, “He wasn’t red, and he wasn’t blue, he was purple. … His cause [was] humanity.”

MY TAKEAWAY: Give quietly, and give what you can. Whether it be money or time or knowledge or all the above, help others who aren’t as fortunate as you.

The most pragmatic lesson I’ve learned from Prince and his amazing story is the one that most astonishes me: this incredible genius DIDN’T HAVE A WILL. WTF? I’ve attendedway too many memorial services for members of our community recently, and many of them it turns out didn’t have a will. I’m only 45, and I’m seeing peers and those in both the generations above and below me pass away, and many without proper preparations.

MY TAKEAWAY: Write a will. It doesn’t matter how much or how little you have to pass on, define what you want done, talk about it with your family (the kind you were born with or the kind you’ve cultivated over time), and share it with those who need to know. Don’t let the State or family members you don’t want to have your legacy have it. And most importantly, define what you want done with your remains, and the memorial/funeral arrangements as well. Don’t leave it to others to guess what you’d want: write it down and get it notarized.

Hopefully, you’ve learned a few things from my Princelyeducation. Regardless, be sure to look at those around you for additional nuggets of wisdom. We all have a little Prince (or princess) in each of us, if we look hard enough.

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