The World Has Lost a Music Legend

One of the most prolific and beloved singer-songwriters of the modern age, Prince leaves behind a brilliant and unforgettable musical legacy. The shocking news of his passing, at the age of 57, has fans far and wide taking a moment to truly appreciate how much Prince Rogers Nelson has given the world.
A Megastar
Prince was one of the most successful artists of the modern age. He sold more than 100 million records around the world, won seven Grammy Awards after 30 nominations, had five #1 songs and 19 overall in the Top Ten, and fifty Top 40 songs altogether. In addition, he won an Oscar for the soundtrack to his film Purple Rain.
Speaking of Purple Rain—no discussion of Prince’s impact would be complete without a mention of the powerful, stylish film that was developed around Prince’s music, stage presence, and persona. Purple Rain and its soundtrack—including indelible Prince classics like “When Doves Cry” and the title track—remain iconic 80s images and sounds, and helped launch Prince (already a wildly successful musician) into the celebrity stratosphere.
The Songs
If you’re a music fan of a certain age, Prince wrote the soundtrack of your life. No matter your musical tastes, you likely have at least one memory that has a Prince song as a soundtrack—whether you know it or not. In addition to the classics he released under his own name, like “1999,” “Little Red Corvette,” and “Let’s Go Crazy,” Prince also wrote songs made famous by other artists, like “Nothing Compares 2 U” by Sinead O’Connor, “Manic Monday” by the Bangles, “Stand Back” by Stevie Nicks, and “I Feel for You” by Chaka Khan.
Prince was an incredible musician who could also play—masterfully—an astonishing range of instruments. In fact, he frequently played all the instruments on a given recording. He was an electrifying performer who effortlessly fused funk, R&B, rock, and other styles into a sound that was marked by infectious rhythms, near-perfect pop hooks, controversial lyrics, and that invisible, un-nameable something that can only be described as genius.
The Controversy
Like any artist worth remembering, Prince was controversial. His music was marked by a willingness to explore sexuality in a frank, playful way that sometimes shocked people. It was his song “Darling Nikki” that initially inspired the formation of the Parents Music Resource Center and the application of the “Parental Advisory” stickers on albums you see to this day.
This wasn’t just an attempt to be shocking for shock’s sake, though; Prince was an artist whose developing thoughts and beliefs found their way into his music throughout his life. As Prince became increasingly religious, he also incorporated Christian themes and messages into his work. When he felt he and other musicians were being mistreated and abused by the powerful music labels and the onerous contracts up-and-coming musicians were often forced to sign, he made a stand and broke from his label, famously adopting an unpronounceable symbol as his name for a few years and releasing five albums in a two-year span in order to satisfy his contract and regain control of his career.
The End
Prince released his last album, HITnRUN Phase Two, on Tidal in December 2015. It was his thirty-ninth full-length album, and may be the last new Prince music the world will ever hear. His legacy as a performer, a provocateur, and a musician and songwriter will go on, however, which is its own form of immortality. Tonight millions of people will be playing Purple Rain, reflecting on the ways this toweringly talented artist has touched all of our lives.